Shamar enjoys his Killarney trip

Shamar won a useful novice hurdle at Killarney as he took the scalps of Que Pasa and Sizing Platinum

Ruby Walsh was up on the 2/1 second favourite for Willie Mullins. He was happy to race in third as 5/4 favourite Sizing Platinum dictated matters from the front.

At the second last Shamar moved smoothly on the inside to pick up the lead in conjunction with Que Pasa (7/2).

From there though the French bred had too much ammunition and came in three and a quarter lengths in front of David Harry Kelly’s recent Down Royal winner.

Ruby Walsh said of the five-year-old gelding: “He loves the fast ground and he bounces off it. He’s a different horse on that ground.

“I’m not sure if he’s a Galway horse. He’s very fast on those flatter speedier tracks.”

Sizing Platinum was awkward at the second last, but had already been passed by his main market rivals. He duly came in third beaten 11 lengths.

Shamar was beaten on soft ground in Cork and Leopardstown after his arrival from France before comfortably winning a maiden hurdle in Cork on good ground in May.

This was Walsh’s fifth winner from his last 17 mounts.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes