Apprentice jockey Sam James is beginning to make a name for himself and partnered his ninth winner of the Flat season at Leopardstown this evening, steering Strandfield Lady to win the Bulmers Live Handicap.

James produced Strandfield Lady on the outer in the straight, hitting the front under a furlong out before staying on well to defeat 11/10 favourite Casbah Rock The runner-up was the fifth losing favourite of the night thus far, with 2/9, 1/1, 4/6 and 9/4 chances already getting beaten in the previous four races.

Afterwards winning trainer Harry Rogers stated “the young lad (Sam James) was very good on Strandfield Lady and timed his run very well.”

“We’ll have to come back here again with her (her sixth career win and her fifth at Leopardstown) if I can find another race for her – she enjoys this good ground.”

Thomas Weekes