Alliance first home in Killarney

Racing : Tony Martin and Ruby Walsh teamed up to take Killarney's valuable Murphys Irish Stout Handicap Hurdle with Northern Alliance.

The lightly-weighted chestnut was quietly progressive last term and proved two lengths too strong for Norther Bay at the line.

Walsh said of the 11-2 favourite: "He got a belt of a whip on his nose halfway up the straight that impeded his momentum.

"But we were in the clear when he pinged the last and he did it well."

© 2008 The Irish Times