Spa Hill foils the gamble on Casey Ryback

After finishing second on his last three starts, Spa Hill got a deserved win to his name as he took the bumper at Killarney, the Pat O'Sullivan Catering Equipment 4yo Flat Race, under Rachel Blackmore (sixth career winner).

Trained and owned by John Nicholson, the son of Fruits Of Love finished runner-up to Bach To Whitingbay, Devils Bride and Gambling Girl on his last three outings, and he was sent off at 7/1 to go one place better this evening.

The Tom Taaffe newcomer Casey Ryback was the one for money on-course, and he was backed from 16/1 to 7/1 at the off.

He attempted to make all under Katie Walsh, but he couldn’t hold off the challenge of the winner, as he hit the front inside the final furlong before going on to score by half a length.

Casey Ryback finished a gallant second, while Kayf Blanco (10/1) ran a nice race on his debut to take third, three lengths back under Pa King for Harry Kelly. Tirauli was sent off the 3/1 favourite (backed from 5/1 on-course) for Willie and Patrick Mullins (two pound overweight), but she could only manage a well-beaten sixth.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee