Still Standing and on the up and up

Still Standing (9/10 into 8/11) justified the strong confidence in style in the M C Group Handicap at Killarney.

The Mastercraftsman colt now boasts form figures of '31-11' after making light of a 3Ib higher mark for a Ballinrobe win nine days back.

Upped further in distance, Jessica Harrington's Still Standing travelled best in the straight under Colm O'Donoghue.

He found the extended mile and three furlongs no problem at all, and once asked for more he extended away in the final furlong to defeat Birth Of Venus by three and three parts of a length.

"We have had a bit of a frustrating summer with him because he doesn't want to go on the very quick ground and got held up a little in the spring," said Mrs Harrington's daughter Kate.

"He is going to come good and hopefully have a good autumn campaign. He didn't act around Ballinrobe and Colm got him up to win on the line but has won here impressively.

"Hopefully he might sneak into one of the big handicaps on Champions Weekend now. He has a lot of pace but 1m3f-1m4f are his ideal trips.

"Mrs Patino (owner) loves Mastercraftman's and she bought him last year to eventually stand as a stallion but he'll race on again next year."

(TW & EM)