Nash lauds Mikey Sheehy for ride on Little Brother

Little Brother (20/1) got up in the final strides to land the RACE Academy Apprentice Handicap (45-70) in the hands of Mikey Sheehy.

Having been settled mid-division, the Gale Force Ten gelding came with a sustained challenge in the final quarter mile and got his head in front where it mattered to touch off Hidden Land (28/1) by a head.

In a finish of ‘roughies’, Harvest Bow (28/1) flashed home for third and at the same price Garrison Commander claimed fourth spot.

The winning 4-year-old had beaten Grade 1-winning hurdler Jeff Kidder on the level at Sligo last year and is a useful dual-purpose performer.

Winning trainer James Nash said: “It was a perfect ride and not just because he won. I said to the lads turning in no matter where he finished he was after giving him a peach of a ride throughout.

“He's a tricky horse, we fancied him a couple of days and he disappointed. Maybe the hurdling is after making a man of him, he won at Ballinrobe and was placed a couple of times.

“The ground was soft in Gowran when we ran him back first time and then we went to Limerick and I thought he'd run well in a hurdle but the ground was over watered and it was too soft as well.

“He obviously likes real good ground and I hope we get a chance over jumps during the summer for horses like him, that genuinely want good ground.

“We'll mix it with him. That was an incredible ride by Mikey today.”

Quotes from Gary Carson