Winston Wolfe and Gavin Ryan (right) get the better of Belgoprince © Photo Healy Racing
Winston Wolfe (5s into 3/1) won the the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap (Div II) in the hands of last year’s champion apprentice Gavin Ryan.
The Sir Prancealot gelding came through to challenge the 85/40 favourite Belgoprince inside the final quarter mile and edged ahead of the market leader close home to win by half a length. Irish Art (22/1) took third place.
The winner had been running reasonably well over hurdles of late and this was his second career success having won a maiden at this venue for Darren Bunyan back in 2018.
Stephen Thorne, assistant to the winning trainer Ado McGuinness, said: “I thought Gavin was super on him. The plan was to sit handy but he couldn’t go with them early so he gave him a chance to finish out.
“He picked up really well and fought to the line. He knuckled down when it mattered and is a very genuine horse.
“We might go back over hurdles with him in the spring when the ground gets a bit better. He’s a great fun horse and the handicapper gave him a chance.
“An uncle of Ado’s passed away and he’s at the funeral today. That will give them all a bit of a boost.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
