Keep Believing wins under teenager Ryan

Jim Bolger’s sixteen year old apprentice jockey Gavin Ryan registered his second winner at Roscommon today as he steered the Brian Nolan trained Keep Believing to win the Follow Roscommon On Facebook Handicap.

Keep Believing, a son of Zoffany, began the year with a rating of just 40 but was today winning from 73 with jockey Ryan, from Killenaule in Tipperary, moved him into contention on the outer in the straight. The winner drifted left under pressure in the closing stages but ultimately recorded a two lengths win over Fair Game

Afterwards Nolan, while on lead-up duty, stated “he was very unlucky he didn't win in Listowel and got 5lb for it and I just thought the 10lb (claim) would help him today.

“He's gone up 35lb coming here today and I was disappointed when he got 5lb in Listowel as he (handicapper) only gave the winner 7lb; he’s not always right!

“The plan was to race sixth or seventh and take our time. I told him (Ryan) if he's not travelling to just sit and wait and go for him in the straight as it's a long straight.”

He added “he's only a three-year-old and probably should have won four races this year and he's the first winner out of the mare (What ABout Me); she was a 94-rated mare and was only a short-head off black-type. The first foal actually had to be put down so this is the first one to race.”

Jockey Ryan, based with trainer Jim Bolger, had previously gained his first success on his first career ride, on the Bolger trained Locus Standi at Dundalk on March 16.

Quotes from Gary Carson