There was a dead-heat for first place in the West Coast Cooler Apprentice Handicap at Down Royal today as jockeys Donagh O’Connor, on the Gordon Elliott trained Tempo Mac and Killian Leonard, on Willie Martin’s Rolanna each partnered winners on their respective first rides for each trainer.

Very little separated the pair in the market (Tempo Mac at 5/1 and Rolanna returned 11/2) and in the race, both jockeys refused to give an inch. Both flashed past the post upsides with the judge subsequently unable to separate the pair.

Elliott’s representative Olly Murphy later stated “that's grand and a win is a win. He flattens out but stays on well. He's a funny horse as he just gets two miles over hurdles. You'd think he would travel away and pick up. He doesn't really want soft ground and may win again on the Flat. He could also go back over hurdles or for a novice chase so has plenty of options.”

Willie Martin’s son Mick Martin, a former apprentice jockey, also stated “I'm delighted! We bought her (Rolanna) at the sales for just €1,000 and Mr Walsh (owner) bought into her.

“We've only had her for a handful of runs and brought her to Chepstow where she was third. She suffered a bit with ulcers but we treated that and it seems to have worked.

“She schools well and has a nice future over hurdles.”

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson