Pass The Ball completes hat-trick

Pass The Ball completed a hat-trick in the Kilcawley Construction Handicap Hurdle, scoring for the father and son team of Niall 'Slippers' Madden, and his father 'Boots'.

Successful on the level at Bellewstown, and then over flights at Killarney, the nine-year-old gelding was sent off at 7/2 this evening, with recent Galway winner Castlehume the even money favourite.

Sent straight to the front, the son of Westerner made virtually all and kept on well under pressure from the last, seeing off the challenge of Castlehume by a length and a half. Gentleman Duke (20/1) completed the places another four and a quarter lengths back in third.

"That's great, he has the hat-trick now, two over hurdles and one on the Flat. He jumps brilliant - he jumped really well there and that's probably what won him the race," said the winning rider.

Pass The Ball is owned by JP McManus, who was completing a treble on the card (earlier successful with Gold Seal and Arctic Light .

STEWARDS REPORT

The Stewards received a report from Mr. P. Malone , Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Clerk of the Scales, regarding the fact that C. Brassil , rider of Presenting Mahler , weighed in at 1.3 lbs overweight. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having considered the evidence, the Stewards were satisfied that C. Brassil was in breach of Rule 231, and they therefore cautioned him having taken his previous record in this regard into account.

Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy