Bees gets on top late to give Kelly a double Birdsandthebees knuckled down gamely to stick her head in front late on in the two-mile-three handicap chase at Limerick, giving Aidan Kelly a double on the card. The race boiled down to a duel between Big Island and the Padraig Roche-trained mare from the second last. Big Island had the advantage going to the last but couldn’t repel the late effort of Birdsandthebees, as the 5/1 joint-favourite got up for a head victory in the colours of JP McManus. The winner was recording her second career victory, having also scored over fences at Clonmel in October. "She toughed it out, which is something she hadn't really done before but Aidan said she jumped great and stuck her head down,” said Roche. "She was unsuited by the heavy ground here in January but seems to like that. We'll keep her going for the summer." (Quotes by Tom Weekes)
