Trainer Terence O'Brien and jockey Denis O'Regan bagged the feature race at Killarney today as mare Lakemilan gained a valuable black-type success in the E50,000 Grade B At The Races Handicap Hurdle.

O'Regan was recently freed up to ride as a freelance following his split with owner Barry Connell and today delivered Lakemilan with a well timed challenge to eventually score a neck win over top weight and former Triumph Hurdle winner Ivanovich Gorbatov

Co Cork based O'Brien later said “I'm delighted with that and a little bit of improvement from Galway was going to put her right there. This was the target for a long time to get black-type with her and to win was fantastic.

“It was a smashing pot and in fairness she has been very consistent but not the easiest to train.

“She tries her best and any time you have a horse who tries, you have a chance. She is progressing and if she gets into the weights for the E100,00 two miles handicap hurdle she could run there next. It might come a little soon but if she comes out of it ok, that's where she'll go.”