Powerful Kieran stretched away in the closing stages to run out a convincing winner of the apprentice handicap at Killarney.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained gelding had been runner-up twice in June but was bouncing back to form after being well held on his last couple of runs.

Mikey Sheehy produced the 8/1 shot to lead passing the two pole today in the mile-and-six contest and he galloped on strongly in the final furlong to post a three-and-a-half length win. Lighthouse Lady stayed on to take the runner-up spot.

The winning rider said:- "It was the first time I've sat on him. He had a good run three runs ago in Fairyhouse when he was just pipped and then he slipped in Galway the last day.

"He likes to be in his comfort zone, they went hard today and he is a big galloping horse. He is a nice horse and hopefully he'll improve again."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)