Rising Altitude, second left, comes through to land the spoils© Photo Healy Racing
Rising Altitude put in a power-packed finish to get up in the two and a half mile handicap hurdle at Killarney.
The race looked to be at the mercy of Vedani coming to the last as he was moving best on the inside. However, he blundered though the flight and landed flat-footed. Denis Hogan had to start stoking him up again and in the meantime Rising Altitude and Kinneagh Cross went past.
It was Rising Altitude partnered by seven-pound claimer Conor Walsh who hit the line first by a short head at odds of 12/1. Kinneagh Cross (6/1) was beaten into second and 10/3 favourite Vedani had to settle for third.
Paul Nolan trains and the winner and he praised his jockey: “Conor is 20 and that’s his second winner but first for me. His first winner was on Sacre Malta owned by his father [trained by William Murphy to win at Limerick on December 27]. He’s a Wexford lad who’s with me and was with Jim Bolger.
“He gave him a great ride. Rising Altitude is a half brother to French Accordion and Accordion Etoile. He’ll not reach their standard, but at least he has his win now.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
