Nam stays on best under Sheridan

Trying ten furlongs on the Flat for the first time, Nam (16s into 10/1 on track) saw the trip out well to land the Grant Thornton Apprentice Handicap by a length and three quarters from Great Grey (11/1).

Excelsius (33/1) and the slow-starting Alice Milligan (20/1) filled the frame in third and fourth, with the 5/1 favourite Red Gerry back in eighth.

It was a seventh winner of the season for Sheridan, and a fourth career success for the Sixties Icon gelding, previously successful over seven furlongs and a mile.

The winning trainer Tom Mullins said: “He should have won in Killarney but he got left eight lengths. Leigh (Roche) said he was very unlucky as he got checked in his run.

“We said he'd win in Galway so we pooled all our resources in that and he didn't get in. We would have got in the last day but it was a last minute thing and he was drawn in Oranmore and the ground was cutting up so I didn't go.

“The young lad was good on him. He talked a good game in the parade ring beforehand and we said of he rides half as well as he talks we'll have a right chance.

“He rode him well and I was delighted with the ride he gave him because he's not an easy ride. He gave him a nice ride.

“We'll see what the handicapper does and he could even go hurdling if we wanted to.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson