Mannion and Levins get a boost

Owner Seamus Mannion and trainer Johnny Levins had to endure the loss of their three time winner Miller Beach at Listowel on Tuesday but they got a welcome pick me up at the County Kerry track on Friday with Res Ipsa Loquitur s success under Mikey O'Connor in the John Francis (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle.

Nina Carberry couldn't take up her engagement on the daughter of Beneficial after being involved in a car accident.

A patient O'Connor brought through the nicely supported 11/2 chance (from 7s) from off the pace and at the finish she got the better of Ontheground by a neck.

O'Connor said: "Nina had a car accident and I hope all is well – the vibes are good – so hopefully all is okay.

"I feel sorry for Nina but it's nice that it worked out."

Meanwhile Levins explained: "It's a legal term, Latin, and it means the facts speak for themselves (Res Ipsa Loquitur). As you can tell then she was always a good work horse.

"In fairness I kind of left the instructions to Mikey as I wasn't sure where the pace was going to come from.

"I said to him how you ride her is how fast they are going to go. He was a long way back but he came in and he just said they were flying and it was the only way to ride the race.

"She cruised through and he was brilliant. Full marks to Mikey.

"I would also like to say well done to Barry Geraghty. He rode her the last day and he just told me that she's too keen with the cheek-pieces and to take them off her.

"I left them off her today and it worked.

"She's been a model of consistency and she's in again at Ballinrobe on Tuesday which we might consider if she's okay.

"She'd have a mandatory penalty there and we could even put a 7Ib claimer up." (TW & EM)