Kilbeggan option pays off for Irregular

Denis Hogan trained and rode top-weight The Irregular to victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap Hurdle at Kilbeggan.

The sweet-travelling Scorpion gelding was noted going well from some way out with his white blaze and he eventually got the better of favourite Konig Hall by a length and a quarter. The Ballyboys (16/1 into 13/2) finished fourth.

"That was brilliant. I was having a bit of a ponder yesterday morning as I was going to run him in Killarney from 5lb wrong in the good handicap hurdle," said Hogan.

"I thought there was great money for offer in it, and a handy field, but it is a quality field.

"The other option was to come here. I wasn't sure the track would suit him but the ground is on the slow side and things are falling apart and not happening fast around here tonight.

"He'll probably go for the handicap hurdle on the Thursday at Listowel, which I won last year with Jack The Wire.

"He's a chaser long term and anything he does over hurdles is a bonus. He's actually already ran over a fence, when he fell at Thurles when running well.

"It's great for Ray (Treacy) who lives in England but his sister is here today. He's a great supporter.

"That ground is lovely for him. You don't know what way Listowel will be but that's the aim anyway."

A.E. Lynch, rider of Bective Cave trained by Matthew J. Smith, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount gurgled during this race.

(GC & EM)