Apprentice Clarke rides third winner

Apprentice jockey Conor Clarke had his claim reduced to 7lbs today, following a third win on the Ray Hackett trained Lord McZie in the DundalkStadium.com Handicap (div I) at Dundalk.

Clarke's first winner was on board the gelding at Navan in May and today the pair won in a tight finish and while he defeated runner-up No Trouble by half a length, just three-parts of a length separated the first four finishers.

Clarke is apprenticed to trainer Hackett, who later reported “huge credit goes to Willie Byrne (jockey) who stepped in last time as Conor was sick and in fairness to him, he said he just lengthens and lengthens and to step him up in trip.

“I'm thrilled for Conor and hopefully it'll kickstart him again from here and he can motor on.

“This horse is very versatile, he's honest and it's grand when they handle it up here. We'll look at something similar and see how we fare.”

Quotes from Gary Carson