Kid does Hayes a big favour

County Limerick-based John Hayes has tasted success in the past 'between the flags' but he got off the mark under Rules tonight at Wexford when his Kilmurry Kid captured the Carrickyrne Handicap Chase under Ian McCarthy.

Throughout the final circuit there wasn't much more than the front-running Alghanem or Kilmurry Kid that you'd be viewing as a contender.

The winner got four out wrong but he was in front from the next on the way to an easy thirteen length victory over Imperial Joey

Hayes commented: "I'm delighted. He is my first winner on the racecourse and I have my license around a year and a half.

"I own him, train him and we bred him as well.

"The ground probably went a bit fast for him the last day and he probably needed the run as well.

"I'm was delighted when the rain came, the more rain the better for him. I'll go home now and study the calendar and see if I can find a race for him in a few weeks time.

"He is the only one I have in at the moment. I actually trained him myself to win four point-to-points and then he won on the track for John Long."

R.C. Colgan, rider of Araglen Lad trained by Neil McKnight, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount made a bad mistake and pulled up.

(DM & EM)