Jock proves tough in front

Prince Jock produced a gutsy front-running performance to take the Barry Matthews Appreciation Handicap at Laytown under Roger Quinlan.

The Pat Shanahan-trained gelding bounced out in front and made every post a winning one in the seven furlong amateur contest. Korbous threw down a strong challenge in the closing stages but could only get within a neck of the 12/1 shot at the line.

The winner had been well beaten on unsuitably soft ground at Ffos Las last time and appreciated today's quicker surface.

Shanahan was saddling his first winner at the track but had been successful here in the past in his riding days:-

“He’s very genuine but is a bit messy in the stalls and no stalls here was a help. Most of his wins were on quick ground so he loved it there today.

“He’s in a claimer at Clonmel next week so we’ll see what the boss wants to do.”

(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)