'We've no excuse' - 1-14 shot Kilcruit beaten on hurdles bow by Largy Debut

Sunday: Cork

Last season's top bumper performer Kilcruit suffered a shock defeat at odds of 1-14 on his first try over hurdles in the first division of the maiden hurdle, proving no match for the Henry de Bromhead-trained Largy Debut.

In doing so he earned the unwanted tag of being the shortest-priced beaten favourite in Ireland in at least a quarter of a century, eclipsing the 1-10 returned about Turnandgo before that horse unseated at Clonmel in 2013.

The race soon developed into a match and Sean O'Keeffe looked comfortable on Kilcruit as the pair matched strides for most of the way.

But when Keith Donoghue began to apply the pressure at the turn into the long Cork straight, Kilcruit came off the bridle quickly and effectively ended his chances when making a mess of the third-last as Largy Debut kept up the gallop, going on to score by ten lengths.

12.10 Cork: full result and replay

Kilcruit had opened at 1-5 after a campaign which included a second-place in Cheltenham's Champion Bumper and a Grade 1 success at Punchestown, and was backed at all rates down to 1-14 before the off.

David Casey, assistant trainer to Kilcruit's trainer Willie Mullins said: "Sean said he didn't travel through the race, he was beaten early. He jumped well up until the third-last. We've no other excuse at the moment."

Kilcruit failed to live up to his exalted billing when beaten at odds of 1-14 on his debut over hurdlesCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Largy Debut was having his first start for the De Bromhead team, having won a point-to-point and been third in his only bumper for Stuart Crawford.

The six-year-old Shirocco gelding now carries the striped colours of Chris Jones and was overcoming a racecourse absence stretching back to March 2020.

After Kilcruit's defeat there was no flurry of festival quotes about Largy Debut but De Bromhead's assistant David Roche said: "He had been working really well coming here; we thought he was a nice horse. Our fellow jumps and travels and we told Keith to be positive."

Dysart makes amends

Mullins and O'Keeffe soon made up for that disappointment, though, when unbeaten bumper horse Dysart Dynamo made all to win the second division of the maiden hurdle. He was cut to 8-1 from 16s for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle by Paddy Power.

On his hurdles debut, he put in a fine round of jumping and galloped his rivals into submission, scoring by 19 lengths from Lucky Tenner.

Casey said: "He's a good horse. Sean said he did everything right and jumped well. He was doing it so easily he didn't realise how far in front he was. He is not exuberant but he does his job and does it well. He'll improve plenty for it."

Concertista: made a winning start over fencesCredit: David Keane (racingpost.com/photos)

Mullins and O'Keeffe completed a double before the Hilly Way victory of Energumene, when top-class hurdler Concertista made a winning debut over fences in the Grade 2 Mares Novice Chase, staying on well to hold off Jeremys Flame and favourite Magic Daze.

Casey added: "She did it well. She is quick at her fences and Sean felt that if she kept her jumping together she would win. She was a beginner against experienced mares and she will improve loads."

Nell makes O'Brien very well

There was another surprise in the Grade 3 Stayers Novice Hurdle with the victory of 25-1 shot Nell's Well from the local stable of Sean O'Brien. It provided a first Graded success for rider Mark McDonagh, despite not being able to use his 7lb claim.

"There always seems to be a small entry in this race and getting black type is what it's all about," said O'Brien. "All she wants is a trip but the programme for staying mares between now and January forced our hand to come here.

"Three miles and soft ground is what she wants. The race fell apart and she kept galloping."

Results, replays and analysis

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