RACING/Killarney report and preview: Killarney survived a precautionary inspection at 7.30 a.m., but racing took place in constant, heavy rain, on soft to heavy ground conditions.
Jockeys Ruby Walsh and Seamus Heffernan and trainer David Wachman each recorded doubles on the eight-race card.
Walsh won the opening Beginners Chase on the Frances Crowley-trained Rockwell Island. The Kildare jockey brought the son of Satco through to lead after the second last and made use of the better ground along the stands' rail before defeating Torose by nine lengths. The win was Crowley's first training success since moving to her base at The Curragh.
Half an hour later Walsh again opted for the stands' rail when winning on Henry De Bromhead's Curfew Tolls in division one of the Handicap Chase. The 9 to 2 favourite defeated Friendly Conflict by four and a half lengths and De Bromhead later mentioned: "I was a little concerned about the soft ground but Ruby said it was loose ground and was easy to gallop through."
David Wachman landed the Ross Derby Club Maiden with Cork Bumper winner Native Churchtown. Seamus Heffernan's mount may now join the long list of Galway Festival hopefuls.
In the Sundays Well Properties Handicap, Wachman's Silvergino defied topweight of 9 stone 10 pounds when defeating Soft Mist by seven lengths for Heffernan.
The featured €30,000 Murphy's Handicap Hurdle was won by the Edward O'Grady-trained Windsor Boy after benefiting from the final-flight fall of Best Wait. O'Grady said: "We were fortunate here. A flat or hurdle race at Galway is next on Windsor Boy's agenda.
There was a sad conclusion to the second division of the two mile four furlong chase when the David Broad-trained Prince Wot A Mess died shortly after holding off the challenge of Multeen Jet to win for jockey Barry Cash while Charlie Swan's The Dark Flasher provided Cloughjordan apprentice Denis Hogan with his first win in the Handicap.
The rain had just cleared when Liz Doyle partnered 14 to 1 newcomer Burntoakboy to win the concluding Ladies Bumper.
There will be an inspection of the track today at 7.30 a.m.
One runner that will be helped by the changed conditions this afternoon is High Prospect who goes for the Dawn Milk Run Handicap. He won a brace of two-mile handicaps on the flat and won two more hurdles events earlier this year.
The odds against Great Compton opening his account have shortened considerably after the rain as he was only touched off in a late season Gowran Park Premier Nursery by Turn Back Time when the ground had really softened. Whatever the conditions though there should be a first and last race double for favourite backers through the Edward O'Grady-trained Kickham (2-0) and the Pat Hughes-trained Rackard (5-30).
