Jockey Robbie McNamara, 22 years old today, provided plenty with ammunition to celebrate when steering the heavily backed The Shepherd King (6/1 in the morning into 2/1 sp) to win the concluding Kerry Group Bumper at Listowel today.

Winning trainer Tom Cooper later reported “The Sheperd King may prove to be a really good horse and I think he’s a better horse than my Lucky William (rated 133 over hurdles). I’d prefer to go for a maiden hurdle next but he may try have another run in a bumper before then.”

The win was McNamara’s eighth winner of the jumps season, and combined with three Flat wins, leaves the Co Limerick rider just one winner behind Patrick Mullins (12 winners) at the head of the Amateur Riders’ Championship.