Crosse kicking on at the top of apprentice table

Shane Crosse tightened his grip on the race to be champion apprentice when moving on to the 24-winner mark aboard Reverberation in the Sheils Restaurant & Apple Orchard Group Handicap.

Riding this one for James Lambe, Crosse had his mount chasing the leaders, and he was fourth two furlongs out.

Ridden and making improvement to lead over a furlong out, Reverberation stayed on well in the final furlong to defeat Doogan's Warren by a length.

"He was very unlucky as the race probably wasn't run to suit him the first night here and in Gowran it was probably a good race," said Lambe.

"Tonight I was a little bit worried about the trip so I just trained him a little bit more for speed than stamina since Gowran and it's worked out fine. The kid gave him some ride.

"I'd like to step him up to a mile-and-a-quarter. That would probably be his optimum trip and in time he might get a mile-and-a-half.

"We'll keep going with him during the winter and we'll see what the handicapper does with him now."

(GC & EM)