Pietropaolo forges link with Oliver Sierra De Gredos (11/4) held fast-finishing Cherry Pink to claim Division 2 of the apprentice handicap in Gowran Park. The four-year-old gelding, in a first-time visor, raced in touch swinging for home and made headway for Julian Pietropaolo in the final quarter of a mile. He worked his way to the front approaching the final furlong and soon kicked for home. The couple of lengths he took out of the pursuers in the closing stages was the winning of the race as 5/2 favourite Cherry Pink rattled home to get to within half a length at the line. Carvalhal (9/1) ran a more than fair race in third, beaten a length and three-quarters by the victor. Andy Oliver said: “He did it well and Julian gave him a lovely ride. “He rode a horse for us recently at Leopardstown and got it spot on. He got the ride spot on and the race report and subsequent recommendation spot on. “When this race turned up, I asked the agent if Julian could ride and the divide came in our favour. We got him and the race went very well. “I spotted on the way down that he was almost favourite and the one that worried me was Cherry Pink, on the form. At the weights reversal it put us there or thereabouts so I could see why. “We put extra headgear on him today just to focus his mind and everything went to plan.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
