Another for Kelly as Icon takes the bumper David Harry Kelly is rapidly making a name for himself as he recorded his fifth winner of the 2012/13 National Hunt season with 11/1 shot Railway Icon in the bumper at Down Royal this evening. This 5yo son of Flemensfirth finished just over seven lengths eighth on his racecourse debut at Kilbeggan earlier this month behind Roisin Dubh. Before that he had two point-to-point efforts to his name, failing to complete on both starts in March 2011. Barrack's Choice made the early running before his saddle slipped and he was soon pulled up after that with six furlongs left to race. This left the 11/10 favourite On The Verge in front under JP Magnier for Willie Mullins but he had no more to offer when head by Railway Icon two furlongs out. Railway Icon kept on well from there and despite wandering about a bit over a furlong out, he stayed on well inside final furlong to win by a length and three parts at the line under Pa King, who was recording his fifth winner of the season. The Richard Walker trained A Twist Of Fate ran a cracker on his debut to finish second at 25/1 under Niall Kelly while Castletimon finished a neck back in third under Mark Fahey at 20/1 for trainer Prunella Dobbs. On The Verge slipped up when beaten and his rider JP Magnier has been taken to hospital for precautionary x-rays. Winning trainer David Harry Kelly of course also took the bumper at Killarney yesterday with Darkestbeforedawn while he had a second earlier on the card with Ladenstown Lady in the mares maiden hurdle. Kelly said afterwards: "He didn't handle the track at Kilbeggan but he has always worked like a good horse. I've got a good bunch of horses. I train just two fields away from Coolmore in Tipperary. "He is owned by the One For The Ditch Syndicate which is headed by Jim Payne from Dublin and he is for sale." (On-course reporting by Michael Graham)
