Hackett & King land Ballinrobe feature

Daniel King partnered his first winner over fences as he guided Say It Ain't So to a surprise win in the feature at Ballinrobe, the KOG Logistics Handicap Chase.

Also successful on his seasonal debut at Clonmel last year, the Ray Hackett trained eight-year-old was last seen finishing eighth of 13 in a Grade B contest at Killarney in August.

Sent off an 18/1 chance this evening, the Kayf Tara bay raced mainly in third under King and jumped well throughout.

Closer in second from four out, the 116-rated gelding improved into a share of the lead on the approach to the second last.

Ridden before the final fence, he battled gamely on the run-in and gained the upper hand in the closing stages, with just a neck the margin of victory.

The Gordon Elliot-trained Pat's Choice (4/1) was the one just denied, while Pakens Rock (14/1 from 40s) was a further six-and-a-half lengths back in third, running his best race for quite some time.

Returned the well-backed 2/1 favourite (from 7s early), West Breeze could only manage fourth after leading for much of the contest.

"He's a horse that kind of gets himself fit. He does plenty at home so not over-training him is the key," Hackett, who trains the winner for the Gleeson & Kearney Partnership, revealed.

"That's his second win over fences. You could go back over hurdles but he jumps a fence so well, why would you?

"He likes a bit of nice ground and hopefully we'll have a good summer with him.

"I think that's Dan's first chase winner and I know him from Denis Hogan's yard which is only over the road from us. I've watched Dan a good bit and he just sits there and drops his hands on them so I knew he'd suit this horse.

"He won first time out last year and we did the same thing with him ahead of this. You always doubt yourself whether he's a bit undercooked but you have to trust the horse."

Additional reporting by Mark Nunan