The Oliver McKiernan trained Golden Boot (3/1) gained a maiden win at Gowran today, winning what amounted to a match race for the opening three runner www.gowranpark.ie Beginners Chase, beating 3/10 favourite and the only other horse to complete Young Finnegan

Outsider of three Yaha Fizz was a first fence casualty leaving Young Finnegan to lead chase debutante Golden Boot, under amateur jockey Barry Browne, for much of the race.

Yaha Fizz did later make his presence felt in the actual race as that loose horse threatened to cause problems in the home straight. Golden Boot moved past Young Finnegan from the second last fence and in the end scored a four and a half lengths win.

Afterwards McKiernan stated “it's next to unraceable but that's not running down the track or anything, it's just serious ground and it showed on the two horses coming to the last.

“He was always going to be a better horse over fences. It's great to get the win with him and get his head in front. It was tough going out there.

“He'll probably go for a small handicap. Hopefully he'll stay a bit further. Conditions might improve a bit and hopefully he could improve a bit also then.”

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson