Smooth success for Kingdom under confident Walsh ride Despite proving easy to back, Last Kingdom (10/1 from 5s early) took the opener at Fairyhouse this afternoon, the Farmhouse Foods Novice Handicap Hurdle, under a confident Mark Walsh ride. One of two four-year-old's in the line-up and racing off an initial mark of 115, the Willie Mullins-trained bay had just one rival behind entering the straight. Doing well to avoid a faller two out, he soon made rapid headway through the field and jumped the last in second. Never asked a question by Walsh, he readily picked off Stuntman Steve on the run-in and came home a length and a half to the good in the colours of JP McManus. The aforementioned Stuntman Steve (18/1) ultimately had to settle for second under Keith Donoghue, while Weston (14/1 from 33s early) was three-quarters of a length away in third. Returned the 9/2 favourite, Kool One finished a disappointing tenth. "It was grand. He has grown up a little bit since he (Walsh) rode him the last day," assistant trainer David Casey reported. "He said the race went okay for him. He jumped well, missed the last a little bit but travelled away and won smoothly. He was happy on the ground, I think. "He might make into a Lartigue horse down the line, he's only four. There's no real long-term plan with him." STEWARDS REPORTS * S.F. O'Keeffe, rider of King In Love (FR), trained by Sean Aherne, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was pulled up injured. The IHRB Veterinary Officer subsequently reported the animal to be post race normal. * A. Harvey, rider of Duty Bound (GB), trained by J.P. Flavin, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount was hampered by the faller at the second last hurdle. * The Raceday Stewards enquired into an incident on the approach to the bend past the stands involving Kool One (SPA), ridden by I. Ryan, unplaced, and King In Love (FR), ridden by S.F. O'Keeffe, who was pulled up, where it appeared King In Love may have been struck into before being pulled up. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. I. Ryan stated that there was plenty of space between his mount and the horse in front and he did not clip a heel. S. F. O'Keeffe stated that his mount lost its action behind and was pulled up. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards did not apportion blame to any rider and took no further action. Additional reporting by Michael Graham
