Ballysax Lil' Mick defies odds to gain breakthrough win In a race where very few of the runners really got involved, Ballysax Lil' Mick made virtually all under Killian Leonard to win the Junction Gastro Bar & Guesthouse Handicap at Tipperary. A 21-race maiden, who had finished down the field at Naas on Monday, the seven-year-old was stepping up in grade here, while at the same dropping back a furlong. Understandably, given those set of circumstances, the Katy Brown trained gelding was sent off a relatively weak 28/1 outsider. However, the son of Prince Of Lir produced a career best performance, in holding all challenges to win by one-and-a-half lengths. Katy Brown said: "That was a while coming! He ran a really good race in Navan and then I gave young Max Popan his first ride on him in Naas on Monday, when he flew home. Max rode him ok, the horse came out of the race well and I did fancy him today. "He was always knocking on the door without getting a win but we have persisted with him and Killian gets on well with him. "Liam Tougher (owner) is here today so I'm delighted for him too." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
