Meade-based apprentice rides first winner

Maccliff was the second 40/1 winner at Dundalk today as the Ger Hussey trained mare provided 16 year old jockey Jack Kearney with a first win in the concluding Floodlit Friday Nights At Dundalk Handicap (div II).

The six year old daughter of Canford Cliffs was a previous winner at the course last April and today, under Kearney for the first time, made all the running and fought bravely for a neck win over Helen De Pourtales

Jockey Kearney later stated “I’m apprenticed to Noel Meade and I've had about 25 rides. It’s great to get that first winner.

“I’m from Castletown, only over the road from Noel Meade’s yard and I’ve been riding out there the last few years. Last August I got my licence and signed on to Noel and I’m in my fifth year in school.”

Regarding his winning ride on Maccliff, he added “over seven furlongs we made plenty of use of her and she’s done it very nicely.” Everyhouronthehour had earlier won the 5.15 race at 40/1 for owner/trainer William Ross and jockey Conor Maxwell.

Quotes from Alan Magee