OId Theatre Royal improved a place from his narrow defeat at Cork recently when winning the Killeen Sports Ground Handicap Hurdle at Ballinrobe today but there was an unfortunate aftermath with the gelding returning lame.

The son of King’s Theatre, under Brian O’Connell scored by a length and three parts over Aon Sceal but was dismounted after the winning line.

Winning trainer Lorcan Donnelly, from Aughrim, Co Wicklow, said “OId Theatre Royal received a kick beforehand but seemed ok – however it doesn’t look good for him at the moment.”

Thomas Weekes