Cailin Mor returned to form at the Curragh today, winning the opening Luke & Nellie Comer Apprentice Handicap for trainer Michael Halford and jockey Sean Corby.

The daughter of Lope De Vega had beaten just three horses in three starts this year but today appeared in much better form, being produced by Corby to lead a furlong out for a comfortable win over Chillie Billie

Afterwards Halford stated “she's a beautiful mover and won on fast ground for Joanna (Morgan, previous trainer) last year. I thought on what she'd done last year that six furlongs and good ground was her thing.

“Some Lope De Vega's are suited by soft ground and she galloped away through the ground well. Her work has been good, and she's very genuine."

As an aside and whatever one's views on the whole whip debate, the race was interesting in that it was run without whips, produced a fair result and every horse kept a straight line under apprentice jockeys.

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee