King enjoys first Irish jumps win on impressive John Cannon

Former champion apprentice Connor King partnered his first Irish jumps winner when John Cannon readily landed the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle at Listowel.

The Joe Murphy-trained gelding travelled smoothly to lead approaching the straight and the 10/11 favourite asserted from the penultimate flight to easily beat Lookondebrightside by eight lengths. Beeverstown Bullet was a further four lengths back in third.

King said, “He was very good. He had a good run the last day in Galway and the race is working out well. We were confident coming here today.

“Everything went right. He got a good run around, jumped brilliant and finished out the race well. Hopefully he can kick on from here.

“He went around on the bridle and it was probably like a bit of work for him.

“He won his bumper really well and has had some good runs in defeat.

“That’s my first winner over hurdles in Ireland but I had ten in England. I’m with Joe Murphy at the moment so it’s great to get a winner for him.”

King was champion apprentice in both 2013 and 2015 but the tall rider switched his attention to the jumps in the UK a few years later due to his weight.