Beautiful Ben (nearest) jumps the last just ahead of Give Her Bach© Photo Healy Racing
Beautiful Ben sprang a 14/1 (from 16's on-course) surprise in the Europe Hotel & Resort Handicap Hurdle.
Trained and ridden by Denis Hogan, the five-year-old son of Beneficial last tasted success when winning his maiden hurdle at Wexford in October.
He then disappointed in three handicaps before finishing a decent fourth at Tramore on his next start.
He was again disappointing last time out at Bellewstown and he was fitted with a tongue strap for the first time today.
Settled in mid-division he raced in a share of third with a circuit to go. He was ridden to challenge on the outer approaching three out and was second at the next.
He made further progress to dispute on the run to the last and a quick jump there sealed the deal and he kept on well on the run-in to score by a length and a quarter. Give Her Bach (7/1) wasn't fluent at the last and she had to settle for second under Pierce Gallagher for Patrick Cronin.
The front two went four and a half lengths clear of Pleased As Punch who was third at 8/1 under Barry Geraghty for Austin Leahy. Artful Artist and No Cash Flow were sent off the 9/2 joint-favourite. The former finished seventh while the well-backed latter (10/1 last night and from 5's on-course) pulled-up before four out.
Denis Hogan said afterwards: "That's more the real horse. He won his maiden at Wexford last year and I thought he'd go on from it but it was hard for him to go straight into handicap company.
"It took us a while to figure him out and he wore a first-time tongue-tie today and pinged the last three hurdles, which was the winning of it.
"Anne Grace, my travelling head lass, is the key to him as she gets him relaxed at the races.
"I haven't had many runners at this Killarney meeting but I've a lot of horses to run and more coming in."
STEWARDS REPORTS
M.P. Walsh, rider of No Cash Flow trained by Henry de Bromhead, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount burst blood vessels in running and consequently was pulled up.
The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined No Cash Flow, trained by Henry de Bromhead, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to have burst a blood vessel.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
