Sligo beauty spot is a winner at Thurles Named after the picturesque hill near Strandhill, Co Sligo, Knock Na Rea made the breakthrough on her thirteenth start, as she took the Killinan Handicap Hurdle. Trained by John Joe Walsh, the daughter of Stowaway was bred by the late Liam Healy senior through the Island Bridge Racing Club.. A good second on her most recent start at Clonmel, the nine-year-old was sent off at 15/2 to go one place better this afternoon. Settled behind the leaders by Ambrose McCurtin, the bay victor went in pursuit of the leader from three out and was ridden to the front from the next. She was kept up to her work on the run-in to hold off the staying on The Grey Guy by a length-and-a quarter. The runner-up, who is a fourteen-year-old, ran an admirable race at 40/1, while Four Horsemen (14/1) was another two-and-a-half lengths back in third. Memory Of Youth (7/4f) could only manage sixth, while the well-backed Windsor Vixen (10s to 9/2) was fifth. Brendan Walsh, son of the winning trainer, said: "Today's trip suited as she's a three-miler really. She ran a great race the last day in Clonmel and the step up in trip helped her today. She is a good old stayer. "Her owner Gerald Gormley is from Sligo." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
