Father Ailbe didn’t go un-backed and he justified the confidence of his supporters in the PitchSupplies.ie Apprentice Handicap at Killarney.

Last season’s joint champion apprentice Andrew Slattery had a welcome double at Dundalk last Saturday and one of those, Crystal Dawn, was for Gavin Cromwell.

Father Ailbe was for the Champion Hurdle winning trainer as well, and he shortened from 12/1 into 8/1 in the minutes before the off.

The Excelebration gelding chased the leaders in this mile and three quarter event, and he was third at the halfway stage.

Challenging three furlongs out, Father Ailbe was ridden to dispute two furlongs out.

Second a furlong and a half out, the Cromwell runner gained a narrow lead a furlong out, keeping on well inside the final furlong to account for Full Moon Magic by two and a half lengths.

Father Ailbe hadn’t been seen out since pulling up over flights at Gowran in February.

G.M. Ryan, rider of Place Des Vosges trained by Mark Fahey, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount checked on the home bend.

S.T. McCullagh, rider of Yulong Pearlisland trained by Mrs John Harrington, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never travelled.

The Stewards looked at an incident on the home bend where Place Des Vosges, ridden by G.M. Ryan, appeared to check. Having viewed the recording of the race, the Stewards were satisfied that no further action was warranted.

(TW & EM)