BALLINGARRY jockey Philip Byrnes had the distinction of winning the opening race of the festival on Sunday with 5/2 chance Hopes Are High for trainer William Durkan (Dublin).
Successful at Ballinrobe on his penultimate start, the grey was third when last seen at Down Royal.
“The ground was probably too quick the last day in the north and if it hadn’t been the first race I would have pulled him out,” assistant trainer Gary Bannon reflected to irishracing.com.
“He also got there a bit soon in the north and Philip was adamant that he’d hold on to him today, much the same as he did in Ballinrobe. He always liked this horse.
“He worked with the horse that finished second yesterday, Touch The Moon, during the week and worked a lot better than him but you never want to say too much.
“He said he idled a lot when he got there but he’s very quick over his hurdles and loses nothing in the air.
“He said he gave him a much better feel with the juice in the ground today,” he said.
The winner is owned by the Don’t Tell Your Mother Syndicate.
There will be interest aplenty in the €200,000 (winners’ prize €120,000) Guinness Kerry National, over 3 miles, at the Harvest Festival in Listowel this Wednesday, off at the unusual time of 4.23 pm.
French Dynamite is among the entries for three-time winning trainer Eric McNamara, Rathkeale.
Presented by Seán Bán Breathnach with Mánus Ó Conghaile, Sarah Lynam, Daragh Ó Conchúir and Meghann Scully, previously of this stable, TG4 will be among those to provide daily live coverage.
