Trainer John O’Shea registered his fifth winner (from just 23 runners) of the season when his Red Key ran out the game winner of the Kerrymaid Hurdle at Listowel today, under another capable ride from Sean McDermott.

Red Key came under pressure three out but stayed on well to get her head in front on the run-in, for a length and a quarter success over False Economy

Callan, Co. Kilkenny based O’Shea later stated “on paper, we were coming here for second place (behind 4/6 favourite Alpine Eagle but maybe the race didn’t ride as good as it looked beforehand.”

“Red Key can get very wound up before and durng her races and we left in ear-plugs during today’s race which seemed to help. Hopefully the handicapper won’t take a literal view of the form and we’ll keep her on the go as long as the ground stays good.”