Kabylia lands the Mares Flat Race at Kilbeggan's first meeting of 2025
On the mark with exciting two-year-old Joyful Tidings in the Tipperary opener, Gavin Cromwell completed an across-the-card double when Kabylia landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race at Kilbeggan's first meeting of 2025.
Ridden by Declan Lavery, the 14/1 shot came from last to first to outpoint Isbaella Johnson by five and a half lengths, prompting Cromwell to acknowledge, 'She's started to do things right at home. Declan pout her to sleep out the back and used her gears. She hit the line well, which is encouraging.
Patrick Mullins, out of luck on favourite Sip Sip Hooray in the first bumper, delivered on 5/2 shot Fillyoureye, for Willie, in the finale, the Racing Again Tomorrow Flat Race.
Carrying the familiar Flynn colours, the one-raced Leading Light gelding was driven clear to beat Artsncrafts, with favourite Ifallgoeswell staying on for third.
Having his second run for his new stable, Allo Al Khawaneej, backed into 4/1, delivered in the opening Spring Two-Day Meeting Maiden Hurdle for the father and son combination of Charles and Philip Byrnes.
The five-year-old Nathaniel gelding scored by more than three lengths from Walk On Annilog, prompting his trainer to comment, 'He picked up an injury last year and we had to take our time. We were happy enough with his first run over hurdles and he won nicely here. He's handicapped on the flat, so he'll be a dual-purpose horse for the summer.' Veteran Pakens Rock, now with Darren Collins, proved his liking for Kilbeggan when landing the KilbegganRaces.com Handicap Hurdle under jockey-in-form Philip Donovan.
The twelve-year-old recording his third win on this track, delighted his trainer, who said, 'He retains plenty of his enthusiasm for the game, at home and on the track and likes it here. He'll probably go back chasing and will definitely come back here.' In-form trainers landed the divisions of the (0-100) Follow Kilbeggan On Instagram Handicap Hurdle, the second leg going to Tubberfinn Lady (Jordan Gainford), making it two winners and two seconds in as many days for Mick Mulvany.
'It's great to have a winner for new owners,' said Mulvany, 'we've been waiting for a bit of nice ground for her.' The first division went to the Gavin Brouder-ridden Turkey And Ham, another winner for County Derry handler Noel Kelly.
Brouder commented, 'She has run over three miles, but felt a lot sharper today. She jumped and travelled better. She handled the ground, but would prefer more juice.'
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