No problems for odds-on Curlew Hill in Kilbeggan opener Curlew Hill justified odds-on favouritism in the opener at Kilbeggan, the Hurley Family Maiden Hurdle (Div I). Luke Dempsey was always to the fore on the Noel and Valerie Moran-owned five-year-old and he eventually accounted for Brooklyn Balance by eleven lengths. “He was a bit novicey at a few of his hurdles here the last day and it’s grand for him to win again,” said winning trainer Gordon Elliott. “We bought him as a summer horse to win a few races and that’s probably as soft as he’d want the ground. “He might be a horse to win a novice hurdle in England as it may be easier to win over there than Ireland.” The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer reported to the Stewards that Give Me A Moment trained by E. McNamara was found to have had blood on the nose post race as a result of exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage. (AM & EM)
