Burkes take the bumper with newcomer Kayf

Kayf Hampshire got off the mark on the first time of asking as she took the bumper at Limerick, the Greenmount Events & Conferencing Mares Flat Race, scoring for the father and son team of Liam and Johnny Burke.

The four-year-old daughter of Kayf Tara opened on-course at 8/1 but drifted out to 11/1 at the off.

Settled at the rear of the field, the bay filly made progress to mid-division over six furlongs out.

She was fourth as they entered the straight, coming to challenge on the outside a furlong from home, keeping on well under pressure from there to score comfortably by four and a half lengths. Whisper Rock finished second at 7/2 under Kevin Power for Philip Fenton, while Contessa Magerita was a further length and a quarter back in third for Sean Aherne at 16/1. Who Let De Dogsout was sent off the 11/4 favourite, and she finished a further half a length back in fourth under Jane Mangan for Robert Tyner.

Liam Burke said afterwards: "She has been very hard to train, she has had problems with her joints, but her owner Jim O’Leary (owns with his wife Elizabeth, and they also have Annie Other) has been very patient.

"Jim is my farrier and he put 'go faster shoes' on her today.

"We hadn’t really thought beyond today but she might go for a winners bumper now."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes