Gilligan rides first winner on Plunkett

Danny Gilligan rode his first winner under rules when delivering Plunkett from off the pace to land the Leopardstown Members Apprentice Handicap at Leopardstown.

A star of the pony racing circuit, Gilligan, the son of trainer (Paul), had been waiting a while to get that elusive first success but he showed real talent when coming from the back of the field with a well timed challenge.

Plunkett was continuing the good recent form of trainer Paul Flynn, who has his string in excellent form over the past few weeks.

Galway could be next on the agenda for the five-year-old, although a trip to the Curragh on Derby weekend has not been ruled out.

Danny Gilligan (16), whose brothers Liam and Jack have also ridden winners said; “I’m apprenticed to Fozzy Stack and it’s great to get that winner as I’ve had six or seven seconds. I got plenty of experience pony racing and rode about 90 winners at that.”

Winning trainer Paul Flynn added, “He gave him a great ride and I’d say that’s the way he wants to be ridden as he does a bit too much when he gets there.

“He didn’t have a great preparation for the Curragh the last day as he missed a lot of time with a foot. I’d say he just blew up in the Curragh.

“We’d like to go to Galway and he may have to run again to get into the good race. I won’t run him too much more as he doesn’t take a lot of racing.

“I think he prefers seven, he’s not slow, especially around Galway.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee.