Cnoc Na Sioga & David Splaine get up close home to beat Golden Kite© Photo Healy Racing
Cnoc Na Sioga got up close home under a perfectly timed David Splaine ride, to see of the front running Golden Kite by a neck, in the Father's Day Racing June 16th Handicap Hurdle.
The John Ryan trained six-year-old son of Westerner clearly needs a sound surface to be seen at this best, with his previous two wins coming on good to firm and good ground.
He won a novice hurdle at Wexford last October but he disappointing on three starts since, two of which were in handicap company.
The Adrian Maguire trained Golden Kite (10/1) attempted to make all under Jody McGarvey and he almost done so, getting caught close home and having to settle for second at the finish. Jamsie Hall was sent off the 4/1 joint favourite and he finished a length back in third under Mark Enright (replacing the injured Paul Townend) for Gordon Elliott while The Crafty Butcher was the other joint favourite and he finished two and a half lengths back in fourth under Adrian Heskin (deputising for Ruby Walsh who was stood down for the evening after his fall from Regusci for Michael Hourigan.
John Ryan said afterwards: "Gillian (Ryan’s daughter) would have rode him today only for the ground being so fast.
"David gave him a smashing ride. The only way to ride him is to come late and fast. His jumping is so good.
"He has only got good to firm ground three times and he has won all three. If he comes up in the ratings he will run in the Galway Hurdle."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
