McManus wins Killarney chase but also loses horse

Owner J.P. McManus won Killarney’s Donie Sheahan Memorial Irish EBF Mares Beginners Chase with Birdie Or Bust (1/1f) today but lost Out For A Stroll in the race, having suffered a heavy second-last fence fall.

Ridden by Mark Walsh, Birdie Or Bust made virtually all the running to score, but had been joined by Out For A Stroll when that rival fell at the penultimate fence.

Birdie Or Bust was then left to coast home, and easily beat runner-up Media Naranja by seven lengths.

Winning trainer Henry De Bromhead wasn’t present and McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry reported “it was a bummer to lose the mare and she was running well when she fell.

“The winner was nice and jumped lovely. It was nice to see her do that as she had a few disappointing runs earlier this year. She will tip away for the summer.”