Leopardstown brace sees Crosse lead apprentice title race

Shane Crosse rode his 21st winner of the campaign on Perfect Tapatino in the finale at Leopardstown, and he now leads the apprentice title by one from Ben Coen.

Crosse was completing a 31/1 brace for his boss, Joseph O'Brien, having earlier landed the nursery on the Annus Mirabilis Syndicate-owned Arcturus

Perfect Tapatino, the 5/2 favourite, had to battle, with only a length and quarter splitting the first four home in the Leopardstown Members Club Handicap.

The fourth past the post, Madrid (6/1 in 7/2) belongs to Joseph's father Aidan, but it was One Cool Poet and Marlborough Sounds that gave the Charles Fipke owned and bred Perfect Tapatino most to do.

The winner is on an upward curve though, and he gained his third win in five starts by half a length and a neck.

Joseph O'Brien was over at Ascot where he saw his Speak In Colours finish down the field in the sprint.

O'Brien was recently revealed as by far the busiest trainer in Ireland for the third quarter of 2018.

The 25-year-old Melbourne Cup-winning trainer is sitting second in the Irish Flat trainers' championship this season, whilst he's fourth in the jumps table.

O'Brien sent out a staggering 427 runners during July, August and September.

A.J. Slattery, rider of One Cool Poet trained by Matthew J. Smith, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount got tight for room in the straight.

T.P. Madden, rider of Faughill trained by Mrs John Harrington, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount got a little tight for room in the straight.

(AM & EM)