Eighteen Summers is pushed out by Killian Hennessy© Photo Healy Racing
Eighteen Summers finally got off the mark, as he recorded his first success on the twentieth time of asking in the Derek O’Sullivan Memorial Apprentice Handicap.
Trained by Jim Bolger, the six-year-old chestnut son of Lion Heart, was providing his twenty-year-old jockey, Killian Hennessy (from Youghal) with his third career win.
A 10/1 chance with Paddy Power this morning, he opened on-course at just 8/1 before being backed into 11/2 at the off.
He came through to lead a furlong and half from home and he kept on well under pressure from there to score easily by five and a half lengths. Little Arrows kept on to take second at 10/1 under Ross Coakley for Ken Condon, while Jan Jeffer was a further three parts of a length back in third under Gary Phillips for Donal Kinsella at 8/1 (backed from 12/1 on-course).
Ned’s Indian was well supported trackside, going from 13/2 to 9/2 favourite at the off. The Sabrina Harty trained gelding got each-way money for his supporters as he finished fourth under Philip Donovan
Ger Flynn, travelling head lad to Jim Bolger, said afterwards: “He was unlucky at Galway (on Monday) when he got badly hampered but he was always going to win today.
"He’ll probably got to the sales now in the autumn."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
