Killaro Boy
Killaro Boy put up a nice performance to land the two-and-a-half-mile novices' chase at Fairyhouse on Easter Sunday.
Adrian Murray's horse was a little keen through the early stages of the race, but Barry Browne allowed him stride on up the side of the track, and he settled a little better in front. His jumping was good, he had all his rivals in trouble as they ran to the home turn, and he stayed on really well over the last three fences to win nicely from Call It Magic, who stayed on well to take second place from Crest, after he had made a fairly shuddering mistake at the second last fence.
This was a career-best from Killaro Boy, and he continues to progress. His jumping was fluent and efficient, and he bounced off the good ground. He had to have expended at least some energy, given how keen he was over the first few fences, and you would have forgiven him if he had wilted over the last two fences, but he didn't, he was strong in the closing stages and he ran out an impressive winner.
The handicapper raised him a stone to a mark of 134 and, while that is obviously a significant hike, he merited a hike of that magnitude. His new mark of 134 should still be within his range, and he should improve again when he learns to settle better. Also, while he is eight years old, he has raced just four times over hurdles and just four times over fences. He is already a better chaser than hurdler, and he has the potential to go forward again. He won on heavy ground on his previous run at Gowran Park, and his only win over hurdles was gained on soft ground, but he won his point-to-point on good ground, and he handled the goodish ground here well. He will be of interest wherever he goes next.
16th April 2017
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