College Boy is getting smarter

A 5lb penalty wasn’t enough to stop College Boy as he doubled up on his Cork winnings with a snug success at Killarney.

The 7/2 second favourite came down the outside under Fran Berry to pick off the Ben Curtis-ridden California Rose (16/1) and win the Killarney Vintners Handicap going away by a length and three quarters.

Berry was also on board on Friday evening when the six-year-old won a seven furlong Cork handicap by two and a half lengths.

The Conor O’Dwyer-trained gelding has certainly hit form after a spell hurdling where his best result was sixth in a Punchestown maiden hurdle last October.

“We’ll see what the handicapper does. He had to work hard tonight so we might give him a little break before his next race,” Conor O’Dwyer said.

“We’ll mix it over hurdles and the flat over the summer.”

The former Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle-winning jockey then quipped: “The only way to win a race is when Willie Mullins has no runners!” Mooretown Boy completed the placings at 20/1 with Niall McCullagh in the saddle.

There was plenty of on course money for Irish Reel and Smoke Charger who finished ninth and seventh respectively. Benalex Park was the 3/1 favourite but didn’t get on terms in fifth.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes