Sands foils the gamble on Mabel

Ancient Sands foiled the gamble on Time For Mabel in the feature at Killarney, the Grade B Ladbrokes Ireland Handicap Hurdle.

The versatile John Kiely trained victor was last seen finishing second to Tempo Mac (11th today) in a similar contest at the Punchestown Festival, and he was sent off the 6/1 second favourite today.

Settled in mid-division by Brian Hayes, he was seventh with a circuit to race.

He came with his challenge on the outer approaching three out, and was in a three way share of the lead jumping the next.

A good jump at the last may have proved decisive, as he kept on well to lead on the run-in, going on to score by a length and a half.

Time For Mabel jumped the last alongside the winner, but he made a mistake there and had to settle for second under Jack Kennedy for Edward O'Grady.

The runner-up was available at 16/1 this morning, opening on-track at 10's before going off the 11/2 favourite. Pyromaniac (12/1) finished a further two and three parts of a length back in third under Phillip Enright for Tony Martin, while Mr Boss Man (33's this morning and from 20's to 16's on-course) was another half a length away in fourth under Roger Loughran for Adrian McGuinness.

John Kiely said afterwards: "He'll head to Galway next for the Galway Hurdle and the strong gallop should suit him. He'll have a little break first though.

"He'll go chasing when he gets tired of hurdling!"

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes