Donnelly rides first winner after dramatic finish

There was plenty of drama at the end of the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle as Champagne Platinum got home in a tight finish to give Luke Donnelly his first racecourse success.

Donnelly produced the 11/1 shot to lead before the second last in the two-miler and he was joined over the last by Billy Lee Swagger

The 2/1 favourite got under the last and jockey James O'Sullivan lost his stick soon after the flight.

Champagne Platinum started to get on top on the run-in but Donnelly misjudged the winning post, standing up 50 yards from the line on the Enda Bolger-trained gelding.

Luckily he got his mount going again close home to record a head victory on the 11/1 shot.

Donnelly, son of jockeys Lulu Oliverfalk and Joey Donnelly, said "I have been in Enda's since September and that's my second ride over hurdles. I'm 20 and from Nenagh, had six rides as an amateur and recently changed to be a conditional jockey.

"It was a very good feeling although I briefly mistook the winning line before thinking 'I may go again'!

"I'm very happy that I got the ride from JP (McManus) and Enda, I'm absolutely delighted."

Bolger added:- "Luke has been with us six months, is bred to be a jockey and must be some judge! That's just his second ride over hurdles.

"Would you believe it, Champagne Platinum beat the horse that just won the Thyestes (Ain't That A Shame) at Navan in 2022, so it took a long time between drinks.

"Today's race cut up, he ran well in a Pertemps Qualifier the last day and he was racing against lesser horses. We tried him a couple of times in banks racing but the horse isn't in love with it and the ground is a big factor for him."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)