Review killarney 31st Aug

Mick Halford landed a first-and-last-race double with Paddy The Celeb and Opera Gloves to take the training honours on a mixed card at Killarney.

Paddy The Celeb was sent off the 11-8 favourite on his jumps debut in the Killarney Plaza Hotel Maiden Hurdle and the seven-year-old travelled well before leading two out to beat Indian Outlook by a length under Andrew McNamara.

The County Kildare trainer's winner on the level was more of a surprise, however, as the Shane Foley-ridden Opera Gloves (7-2) overtook St Jean going to the final furlong in the Killarney Grand Race and scored by a length and a half.

Aidan O'Brien's runner Indian Chief third when favourite for the Dante and returning to action after flopping at Royal Ascot, was sent off the 4-11 favourite but trailed in last of three.

The Ballydoyle handler had better luck in another three-runner race when Mekong River (4-5 favourite), a winner in the stewards' room on his Gowran debut, needed no such help as he led all the way under Joseph O'Brien to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nursery Handicap by a length and a half.

Only three went to post in the Killarney Oils Handicap, too, and this time the young O'Brien and his sister Ana had to give best as Connor King tracked them into the final furlong before unleashing Patrick Prendergast's 11-8 favourite Ravello Again for an easy three-length victory.

Katie Walsh upheld family honour when she gave her husband Ross O'Sullivan's 9-2 chance He's Our Man a great ride to hold off the odds-on Sarah O'Brien-ridden Marchese Marconi by a short head in a stirring finish to the ML Lynch Civil Engineering (QR) race.

Philip Enright picked up a spare ride on The Boat People after Andrew Lynch was injured and led for most of the way to take the valuable KWD Handicap Hurdle on Henry de Bromhead's 7-1 chance, who was driven out to beat Mister Hotelier by a length and a quarter.