Review killarney 13th Jul

Fran Berry was the man to follow at Killarney as the season's leading rider mopped up three of the four Flat races on the mixed card.

Two of the victories came in commanding style in handicaps, but he had to work much harder to complete his swift hat-trick on Alpine Eagle in the Killarney Veterinary Clinic Race.

Favourite Magen's Star looked to have stolen the contest as she built up a 15-length lead in mid-race, but Berry and Pat Smullen on Mount Helicon collared her approaching the furlong pole.

It was a ding-dong duel thereafter and Berry drove Jessica Harrington's well-backed Alpine Eagle home to win by a head for the 9-4 shot's first Flat victory in nearly three years.

Berry initiated his treble when Mick Halford's If Per Chance (11-4 favourite) swept clear over a furlong out to take the Robin Parke Memorial Handicap by seven lengths.

Then the Tom Mullins-trained King's Vintage (6-1) beat off Top Spin to win the Corcoran's Furniture & Carpets Handicap by four and a half lengths.

The other Flat race, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden, went to Ice Empress (5-2), who with five placings to her name in nine attempts certainly wasn't winning out of turn.

Sean Levey took her straight to the front and Aidan O'Brien's grey had them on the stretch in the straight as she comfortably held off favourite Treasure The Cross by three lengths.

The Winner's Enclosure At The Malton Novice Chase looked a decent contest but of the main protagonists, favourite Penny's Bill was pulled up and Willie Mullins' candidate Persian City fell four out.

Promising point-to-point and hurdles winner Next Week tried to make all on his fencing debut, but he was caught by Glantara at the second-last and Andrew McNamara kept the John Kiely-trained 12-1 shot going strongly to score by seven lengths.