THE feature race on the first day of Killarney’s May Festival was the €40,000 Kelly Farm Modernisation Ltd Handicap Hurdle which was won by the Noel Meade-trained Jesse Evans, who took the spoils by a half length under jockey Sean Flanagan and for owner Jack Singleton.

The son of So You Think was produced with a well-timed challenge in eventually scoring this narrow win and afterwards Flanagan reported: “He is obviously a smart horse and his run at Punchestown was his first in a competitive handicap and it has sharpened him up.