McKiernan takes the Listowel feature with Bets

The feature race at Listowel this afternoon the Kevin Broderick Memorial Handicap Chase saw the excellent start to the 2012-13 National Hunt season continue for trainer Oliver McKiernan as his Any Bets ran out a comfortable winner under Shane Crimin.

With Crimin taking a valuable seven pounds off his weight of 10-3, the 8yo son of Beneficial carried just 9-10.

Having bounced back to form with a victory at Down Royal last month, he opened on track at 6/1 but drifted out to 7/1 at the off.

After racing prominently early on he moved to dispute the lead at the sixth fence and soon took up the running.

He and last year’s winner Norther Bay in second, had a clear advantage over the rest of the field at the third last and the pair were set to battle out the finish when Norther Bay crashed out at the last under Barry Geraghty for Eoin Griffin.

This left Any Bets with a clear advantage and he came home six lengths in front of Commanchewardance for Paul Townend and Denis Murphy back in second at 5/1 joint favourite.

Recent Killarney winner Mountain Lough ran well to take third a further two and a quarter lengths back in third at 7/1 for Louis Archdeacon and Philip Enright while the other 5/1 joint favourite Gonebeyondrecall finished a disappointing seventh under Davy Russell.

Winning trainer Oliver McKiernan, who was recording his fourth winner of the new season, said afterwards: "He jumped very well. He was under pressure at some of the fences from other horses but his jumping was brilliant.

"He doesn’t really have a turn of foot but his jumping is the key to him.

"Shane gave him a lovely ride and they work well together. He will be kept on the go now for the summer and he likes tight tracks.”

Winning rider Shane Crimin, who is twenty and from Terenure in Dublin, was recording his sixth career victory aboard the winner.

Donal Murphy & Thomas Weekes