DUTY Bound, trained by John Flavin, captured the featured KPH Construction 110 Series Final Handicap Hurdle at Killarney on Thursday evening.

Sent off 18/1, the O’Brien, Bermingham, O’Neill, Flavin-owned gelding stayed on best to score by half a length under Donagh Meyler. Flavin said: “I didn’t realise he had to run in a 0-110 to qualify for this Final, so I gave him a quick spin in Tipperary a fortnight ago and I knew that run would bring him forward.

“It was fantastic to win this prize money with a 108-rated horse and he had also previously won another €25,000 pot in Listowel. Today’s race worked out perfectly and they went a good gallop. He is wicked tough and I was happy the runner-up didn’t come and beat him.

“Normally he would need time between runs, so I might just give him a minute. He has the option of going back over fences in time.”

O’Brien double

Joseph O’Brien trained a double on the card, initiated by Nitty Gritty in the opening Laurels Pub Maiden Hurdle. Owned and bred by Miss Sarah O’Brien, the 9/4 favourite kept on well to win by half a length.

Jockey J.J. Slevin reported: “It looked like he was on the losing end coming to the last, but he got a good jump, stuck out his head and tried hard. We didn’t go mad fast, but it was a good performance. He had a nice run the last day, which was his first run after a break, and has definitely come forward from that.”

Galileo Sands completed the brace when staying on late under John Gleeson to win the Kerry Drains INH Flat Race.

Great attitude

Sent off 8/11 favourite, the Bronsan Racing-owned gelding prevailed by half a length. Gleeson said: “He deserves that as he had been knocking on the door with some great runs in bumpers. The Galileo came out in him as he was game, gutsy and had a great attitude.

“I was quite confident at the top of the straight and he came off the bridle early, but in fairness to him, the further you go, the better he gets. His previous runs stood to him, it was a nice performance and it probably wasn’t a bad race either.”

The 7lb-claimer Sam Cotterill was injured pre-race on withdrawn Riverwoods and was taken to hospital with a suspected leg injury.

EMILY Love made it four wins in a row when readily landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares’ Hurdle. Josh Williamson was in the saddle as the 6/4 favourite scored by five and a half lengths.

Winning trainer Gordon Elliott commented: “Emily Love is a very tough mare, but to be honest, I was very worried about both my runners on that ground and whether or not we’d run them. She is just honest, jumps and is tough.

“She is owned by a good man Jim Reilly who lives near us and has been a big supporter of Cullentra for a long time, so I’m delighted for him and his family is here too.”

The William O’Doherty-trained Swelltime recorded a sixth career success when winning the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.

Jake Coen was always prominent on the 14/1 chance, leading from three out to record a four-and-a-half-length success for The Swelltime Partnership.

O’Doherty said: “We nearly pulled him out due to the ground because he is a good ground horse but there’s horses-for-courses, and he won here last year. Carl Millar won on him here last August, but has a broken collarbone, so Jake works with him (in Gordon Elliott’s) and obviously Carl told him about the horse.

Roll on

“I told Jake to let him roll on if he fights, but to get breathers into him and he did exactly as I asked. That wouldn’t be his ideal ground but his jumping kept him in it.

“He had a lovely racing weight today and he’ll come back here again next month.” Following an incident on the bend out of the back straight, the Raceday Stewards found Jake Coen was in breach of Rule 214 in that he had ridden carelessly and, having considered his clean record in this regard, the Raceday Stewards suspended him for five racedays.

ERIC McNamara trained Say It So to win the Dr Ivo O’Sullivan Memorial Handicap Hurdle over two miles and a furlong.

Ridden by Calum Hogan, the 9/1 chance ran on well after two out to score readily by two and a quarter lengths in the colours of the Hurling Mad Syndicate. McNamara said afterwards: “He has been a great servant and that’s five races he has won for us, having won four last year. Calum gave him a great ride and I warned him to keep out on the wide outside, which he did, and I think it made a big difference. He’ll stay hurdling and loves jumping but I’d say he isn’t as good on the flat as he was, plus the fact he has gone up a lot in the ratings. I think there could be another hurdle race in him.”

Ladies’ Pro/Am

Anna McGuinness made virtually all on the Sean Aherne-trained Palpatate to win the concluding Kate Kearney’s Cottage (Ladies’ Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.

Sent off 11/10 favourite, the Raymond O’Driscoll-owned and bred gelding kept on well to score by one and a half lengths.

Aherne reported: “She has been knocking on the door and running well, so she deserved that. I was a little nervy about the ground as she likes good ground and got away with it today.

“She is by a sprinter so would like top of the ground. I thought I had a nice jockey for these Ladies’ Races and she (McGuinness) was a help and is well able. I’m delighted for everyone and for Ray, from Skibbereen, who also bred her.

“We might go over hurdles now, she has a little schooling done at home and seems fairly okay at it.”