King times it well on Rio in opening claimer The Denis Hogan-trained Bal De Rio was delivered with a well-timed run by Daniel King to land the opening claiming hurdle at Clonmel. The Gordon Elliott-trained pair of Knocknagappagh and Boothen Boy fought it out down to the second last in the two-and-a-quarter mile contest with the latter taking a narrow advantage before the final flight. He was joined on landing after the last by Bal De Rio though and the 9/2 shot stayed on best to record a length victory. The winner had been well behind when falling over fences at Leopardstown last time. He had been second in a similar event at Limerick in late January. King said afterwards:- "I got a lovely lead into the race and he travelled well. To be fair to him when I asked him after the last, he galloped all the way to the line. "It is fairly heavy out there but he got through it well. If he is claimed he will be a nice horse for somebody for the summer and he is a consistent horse." The winner was the subject of a friendy claim by connections while Knocknagappagh was claimed for €7,000 by T. Keane, to be trained by Peter Fahey. (Quotes by Tom Weekes)
