J.P. McManus completed a treble at Killarney today when claiming the first ‘big one’ of the new jumps season, the Finbarr Slattery Killarney National Chase with the Enda Bolger trained, well backed Auvergnat

Fourth previously in the Cross Country Race at the Cheltenham festival, Auvergnat was backed from 7/2 this morning and from 9/4 on-track in to 2/1 favourite and in the end scored a comfortable three and a half lengths win over Kansas City Chief

McManus was registering his fifth winner of the Killarney festival while winning jockey Mark Walsh was himself recording a double on the day and his own fourth festival winner, having also partnered McManus’ two winners at the meeting yesterday.

Trainer Bolger later stated “we decided to skip the La Touche (at Punchestown) as it was firm in parts down the back but he slushed through it well today!

"He was in good form and we decided to come here. He could be finished now and his main job will be back to Cheltenham in November - he’s only seven."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee