Conor Hoban's claim helped to ease Lord Kenmare s top-weight burden in the Irish Stablestaff Association Awards March 3rd 2012 Handicap and the Westport, County Mayo jockey had his timing spot-on as he got the gambled-on favourite (9/1 this morning into 7/2) up to prevail by a length and a quarter.

The winner, also the subject of a big punt here last month, is well-handicapped on his best form and he came with a great run down the outer. Fitted with a first time tongue-tie he saw off Jim Bolger's Naoise at the finish.

Michael Halford trains Lord Kenmare (now four times a winner here) for Brian Gallivan and he said: "Conor gave him a good ride as he likes to be ridden that way - taking his time and coming down the outside.

"That's the first time he's been down in that grade for a long while. We put a tongue-tie on for the first time as he was just not finishing out his races.

"It'll do his confidence good, that win." (AM & EM)