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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Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Irish Independent
A late Wexford publican, musical mentor, and gifted artist among those honoured at annual Rosslare Civic Awards
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Irish Independent
5 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Wexford's Johnstown Castle to be transformed into jazz venue for weekend of world-class music
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Irish Independent
6 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Irish TV tax break gets green light from Europe
RTÉ could be a major beneficiary of the €211m scheme, with The Late Late Show among the programmes that should qualify. The commission examined the plan, announced by minister Jack Chambers in last year's Budget, under EU state-aid rules. The aim is to promote the production of unscripted audiovisual programmes with either Irish or European cultural content. The measure will be introduced for a four-year period, backdated to last December and running until December 31, 2028. The aid is in the form of a tax credit of up to 20pc of the production expenditure that happens in Ireland. The maximum support cannot cover more than 16pc of the total cost of production. To be eligible, a programme must have a minimum cost of €250,000, with half of that being spent in Ireland. A 'cultural test', which will be designed by the Government, will be used to ensure that the unscripted productions 'contribute meaningfully to the promotion and expression of Irish or European culture'. Anthony Muldoon, director of strategic policy at Screen Producers Ireland (SPI), said the tax incentive is a 'transformative' investment for Ireland's creative industry. 'It will empower our producers and creators to develop and produce high-quality programmes that resonate with both domestic and international audiences,' he said. Members of SPI had joined together to campaign for the tax credit, forming an Unscripted Working Group, and had co-operated with the Department of Finance and Revenue, as well as with the Department of Arts and Media. Stuart Switzer, chair of the Unscripted Working Group, said he was thrilled that the European Commission had decided to approve the aid package. 'This is a first in Europe, and a recognition that the creative unscripted sector in Ireland has the potential to emulate the success of our scripted colleagues,' he said. 'The challenge will be to ensure the benefits of the incentive are retained within the independent production sector to build companies of scale.' According to an analysis included in the Tax Strategy Group papers last year, spending on unscripted TV productions could increase from about €90m a year to €300m if a tax credit was introduced. It referred to two similar schemes in Europe, operated by Malta and Cyprus. "If introduced, such a relief could have the potential to support additional employment in the sector and increase demand for studio space,' the report said.
