Key scores on second start for Byrne

On just his second start for Clonroche, Co Wexford trainer Lar Byrne, Key Account took the Joe Cooney Memorial Handicap Hurdle under fellow Wexford man Harley Dunne.

The 4yo son of Key Of Luck had previously been under the care of Eoin Doyle, failing to score on his eleven starts for him, seven of which were over hurdles with the rest being on the level.

Last time out he had his first start for Byrne and he ran a decent race at Wexford where he stayed on well to finish fourth behind Opera Music.

Upped in trip by three furlongs today to 2m 3f this evening, he was sent off at 8/1 and raced in third for much of the contest.

He moved into second approaching the third last and hit the front before the final flight staying on well on the run-in to score by three and a half lengths.

Top weight Rawnaq ran well to take second at 11/1 under Andrew Thornton for Robbie Hennessy while third reserve Blaze Of Fire was seven lengths back in third under Mark Walsh for Tommy Carberry at 13/2. Tough Mark completed the placings a further six and a half lengths back in fourth under Keith Donoghue at 11/2 while the Michael Cullen trained 4/1 favourite Offside Rule could only manage fifth under Davy Russell.

Winning trainer Byrne was getting himself off the cold trainers list as it was his first winner since Har Wil won a bumper for him at Limerick in July of 2010 under Andrew Doyle.

"I’m nearly after forgetting where the winners enclosure is! We’ve had a lean time." said Byrne afterwards.

He added "He’ll probably go for another handicap now and we might give him a break after that as he’s still a young horse."

(On-course reporting by Gary Carson)