Barney King bridged gaps and made milestones when winning the Audi Ballinrobe Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (div 1) at Ballinrobe today, providing jockey David Hickey with a first winner and provided his trainer John Carr with a welcome turn.

Champion Hurdle winning trainer Carr's previous win was with Atlas Peak at Dundalk in April 2013 while ten year old gelding Barney King (outside at 28/1 today) was himself bridging a gap of over four years (March 2010) since his only other win.

Following the win, Carr stated “I'm not surprised because the way my horses have been running, anything was possible! He bled two runs ago and had run his race before his latest start when he ran away going to the front. We'll go for another handicap again.”

Twenty year old Hickey, from Roscrea, is based with Dessie Hughes and was having his tenth ride.