Abernethy capitalises on late fall of opponent to ride 1st winner

Amateur jockey Cormac Abernethy rode his first winner, with a little help from lady luck, aboard Stansfield in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Novice Chase at Down Royal.

Eleven times previously raced, in addition to having had four runs in point-to-points, Stansfield was also breaking his duck here. The Thousand Words gelding represents trainer Paul Traynor, and his partner, owner Karen McNeilly.

Prominent racer Arahecan went on approaching two out and was looking a winner when coming to grief.

Henry de Bromhead trains Arahecan and he also has care of Cavalry Master who eventually chased home Stansfield at a distance of three and three parts of a length.

"We thought he would have needed further but with the ground being so heavy we thought it might work in our favour,” said Miss McNeilly.

"Cormac (Abernethy) rides out with us three days a week and that is his first winner anywhere. We are delighted to give a young fella' a chance. He's from Armagh direction as he would ride out for Ronan McNally too.

"The ground is horrendous out there but he was strong at the finish.

"We didn't want it to be a sprint finish and that was how his last race sort of panned out. Cormac said they went a good gallop.

"You never like to win in those circumstances, so hopefully he (Arahecan) is okay.

"We did have an entry for him at Leopardstown in the Matheson. We are keeping our ambitions maybe a wee bit too high. He'll not be going there but I would like to think perhaps another Grade B over further off a light weight.

"The light weight on his back helped today."

Abernethy has been in with trainer James Lambe for five years.

(MG & EM)