Park Of Kings and Mark Walsh white cap win the Conor Cassidy Cars Handicap Hurdle Healy Racing © Photo Healy Racing
Park Of Kings delivered on the promise he had shown since his bumper days when running out a comfortable winner of the Conor Cassidy Cars Handicap Hurdle at Roscommon.
Well touted prior to his racecourse debut at Fairyhouse in December, the Paul Nolan trained gelding failed to win in that discipline but has always had the stamp of a horse that would do better over jumps.
Having shaped with promise on a few occasions in maiden hurdles, the J.P. McManus owned five-year-old proved disappointing on his initial foray into handicap company at Tipperary last time but showed his true ability here.
Always well positioned just off the pace, Mark Walsh moved closer after two out, switching his charge to the inside jumping the final flight. Merely having to be pushed out hands and heels on the run-in, he looked value for more than the winning margin of two-and-three-quarter lengths.
“He's been very disappointing. He's had a few issues with his wind but he never made a sound racing. At home we felt he might just need a tongue-tie on him and it made the difference,” said Nolan.
“He did it nicely but on the strength of his bumper form he'd want to. We were fierce disappointed with him and at least he's won one.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
