Hood a help as Milan justifies punt

Bought out of the Donnacha Doyle yard after finishing second in a point-to-point sponsored by current trainer Oliver McKiernan's Cavan Developments, Luckyinmilan showed his best form since that February 2014 effort to take the Munster Handicap Hurdle at Thurles under Ian McCarthy.

The market gave a clue that an improved effort might be forthcoming from the first-time hooded handicap debutant too, as he was quoted at odds of at least 33/1 earlier in the day but went off at only 'eights.'

Hot favourite Edvardo was struggling to get to them when making a mistake at the second last and it soon concerned Luckyinmilan and Fiddlers Bow

In the end the McKiernan runner found most from before the last to gain the day by two and a half lengths. The Grey Guy was another one for money, from around 14s earlier into 9/2, but he could do no better than sixth.

"Oliver likes to have his horses ridden prominently a lot of the time and he was spot on with this lad. He told me to make up his mind at the back of the third last," revealed McCarthy.

"He said he'd keep finding for me and he did — he grinded it out well.

"He was lugging out all the way up the straight and he was having a good look around.

"He's a grand type of horse though. He's had a couple of runs over fences so he can go back that route as well."

Meanwhile McKiernan stated: "It took a long time for the penny to drop with him but we worked him at the Curragh the other day with a hood on and it crowned him.

"He still showed a bit of greenness in the straight today. He wasn't concentrating at all.

"We rode him more positively today and he might improve again as the handicapper can't be too hard on him."

The Stewards fined T.Shanahan, trainer, €350 for lodging a passport in respect of Kilkarney Mai in which the vaccinations did not conform with the provisions of Rule 91. The Stewards allowed the horse to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the vaccinations were in order.

(TW & EM)