Berry doubles up aboard Stocktons

Just eight of the sixteen horse declared for the Listowel Whit Weekend 3yo Handicap raced, with the Charles O’Brien trained Stocktons Wing coming out on top providing his jockey Fran Berry with a double on the card.

The 3yo son of Jeremy was having his third start in handicap company this afternoon and having put in a decent performance on his last start at Dundalk and with the better fancied horses all being non-runners, he was sent to post the 7/2 joint favourite.

The other 7/2 joint favourite Dark Danger under Seamie Heffernan led the field into the straight but she could offer no more when headed by the winner a furlong from home.

He kept on well from there to score by two and a quarter lengths from Forgiving Light who stayed on well to take second at 9/2 while Greybridge was a further half a length back in third under Marc Monaghan at 12/1.

Frank Berry, racing manager for JP McManus and father of the winning rider, said afterwards: “We are just glad to get the win out of him. I was a bit worried about the ground but he seemed to handle it.”

Donal Murphy & Thomas Weekes