The opening race of the Killarney July Festival, the Bourn Vincent Memorial Park/Killarney Racegoers Club Maiden Hurdle, went to Beabus Jack for trainer Charles Byrnes with Davy Russell in the saddle.

Sent off at 5/1 (opened 6/1 and touched 13/2) he tracked the leaders early before improving into third when ridden at the third last.

He disputed the lead with Sir Harry Cash at the second last but he accelerated on the run to the last and stayed on well from there to score by a comfortable five lengths. Plato (6/1) stayed on well to take second for the father and son team of Declan Queally Senior and Junior while the 6/4 favourite (7/2 this morning and opened 2/1 on track) Sir Harry Cash was a further three parts of a length back in third for another father and son team, Eric and Emmett McNamara.

The winning 5yo son of Lord Americo was having just his third career start this evening, having finished a good fourth on his debut at Sligo in May behind Curragh Golan.

Last time out at Clonmel he was travelling well before he hung left after the third last and was soon pulled up in the race won by Dreaming On.

Winning trainer Charles Byrnes said afterwards: "He hung desperately the last day and the better ground today was a good help.

"We will find a two and a half to three mile novice hurdle for him now and he could go to Galway although I’d said he is better going right-handed."

Byrnes was recording his first winner since E Mac won for him at Kilbeggan back on the 4th of May.

(On-course reporting by Alan Magee)