Skib Gold a shock 80/1 winner at Gowran Park The Michael Byrne trained Skib Gold caused a real upset when defying odds of 80/1 to win Division ll of the Racing TV Apprentice Handicap at Gowran Park. Unplaced on all three maiden starts, the four-year-old beat only two horses home on his recent handicap debut at Killarney. Racing wide in the initial stages under Paddy Harnett, the Havana Gold gelding came through to dispute at halfway. Heading leader Leabaland over four-furlongs out, Harnett made a decisive move when kicking on entering the straight. Keeping on strongly from over two-furlongs out, Skib Gold stayed on to beat Obama Army by three-and-a-half-lengths. “I actually had a few quid each-way on him,” said Byrne. “He ran in Killarney last week and couldn’t get round the bends, he’s a big baby. “He ran well here in a maiden on his second last run when he was sixth. He was staying on at the finish then. “I told Paddy to be aggressive on him today and make him do it because he can do it when he wants to. “At home if you stop riding him around the gallop he’ll stop. He’s just a big lazy devil. “I’m delighted. He’s a big raw horse, he’s 17 hands, and I was hoping he’d run well because the bit of ability is there. It was a moderate race but it’s tough to win any event. “He seems to like Gowran. There is another one of these races back here in a fortnight’s time so that will be the next plan.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
