Kendancer and Phillip Byrnes.© Photo Healy Racing
The Charles Byrnes trained Kendancer justified some strong late support when running out an easy winner of the opening Download The New Tote App Claiming Hurdle at Limerick.
Fifth in a similar race at Clonmel on his reappearance earlier this month, the eight-year-old improved from that effort with a convincing performance this afternoon.
Sent off 15/8jf, the gelding was held up towards rear in the 10 runner field, as Simply Shabra and Tom McGreevy took them along.
Moving fifth after three out, jockey Philip Byrnes came wide into the straight, arriving down the outside travelling easily at the penultimate flight.
Touching down just in front, Kendancer led away from the hurdle, as Tom McGreevy fell, bringing down Simply Shabra in the process. Gino Drummer Boy came through on the inside to dispute on the run to the last but despite a less than fluent jump at that flight, Kendancer found plenty on the run-in to go clear for a three-and-three-quarter length win.
Trainer Charles Byrnes said: "He was in for €10,000 at Clonmel the last day but wasn't competitive so we said we'd drop him (to €5,000). He'll probably be claimed now but he is poorly handicapped.
"He (Philip) said he was fierce guessy at his hurdles but we got the winner and the owners had a few quid on so we're all happy."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
Kendancer was the subject of a friendly claim by Charles Byrnes. There were no further claims in this race.
