Curtis back on top with Rafters

Tom Hogan saw his own colours carried to success by Lock Mor Lad at Ballinrobe just over a week ago and Ben Curtis brought himself back to the head of the apprentice table again in the navy blue and sky blue sash when he gave Raise The Rafters a dashing front-running ride to land the Join The Sligo Race Supporters Club in 2011 Maiden by four and a half lengths.

The pursuers looked like they might get to the successful chestnut son of Monashee Mountain two furlongs out but once asked to go about his business in the straight the 33/1 chance (100.90 on the Tote) kept going to score comfortably from the well-backed Faoileanda (5/1 this morning into 9/4). The favourite Dazzle Dancer (11/4 this morning into 13/8) could manage no better than fourth whilst easy-to-back Tornedo Shay was beaten from a long way out and ended up finishing tenth.

Hogan reported afterwards: "He wouldn't settle in bumpers and when we worked him at home from the front decent horses were finding it hard to get by him. He is closely related to Rooftop Protest and that's how he got his name."

Rooftop Protest won 11 races, 10 of them for Hogan, who of course saddled his first ever winner at Sligo,