Hospital, right, gets his head in front of Beckwith Star close home© Photo Healy Racing
Jockey Mark Walsh may have been caught close home in the second race, but he pounced late in the handicap chase on Hospital to deprive Beckwith Star by a short head. Musawama took the nine-runner field along and jumped well in front in this two mile one furlong assignment. Coming to three out, however, Beckwith Star loomed large on his outside.
As Musawama’s petrol gauge started to dwindle, Beckwith Star got in front before the last. Hospital tracked him through and after that fence Walsh drove his gelding up on Beckwith Star’s inner for the narrow victory.
The six-year-old, trained by Eric McNamara, was 7/2 before racing. His price on course shortened from 5/2 to 2/1 favourite. Beckwith Star was returned in second at 10/1 and Musawama got a third-placed reward at 16/1. He passed the post 15 lengths off the battle for first.
“He’s a good tough horse. He used to be soft, but he’s staying better this year. He didn’t look a likely winner until the last 50 yards,” Eric McNamara said.
“If he had jumped the last better he’d have made life easier for himself, but winning a short head is the same as winning 10 lengths.
“He’ll mix it over hurdles and fences over the summer. I’ve no major plans, but we’ll see what we can win with him.”
This was the third winning favourite in-a-row at Killarney.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
