O'Brien excels on Pepparpot

Katherine O'Brien ended a lean spell of two years when registering her fourth winner, on Pepparpot (12s into 10s), in the Like Us On Facebook Apprentice Handicap at Gowran.

This success will be a real feather in O'Brien's cap as Pepparpot hasn't always looked straight-forward and he was shedding his maiden tag at the tenth attempt in this extended nine furlong event.

O'Brien employed the preferred tactic on the evening, assuming an always prominent role on the Mountain High gelding. He stayed on dourly from two furlongs out to eventually defeat Badger Daly (11s to 8s) by half a length.

Well-backed favourite Only Exception (5s this morning into 5/2) could manage no better than fourth.

Winning trainer Mag Mullins commented: "That's great. I'm delighted he finally got his head in front. He's only maturing now and maybe there'll be another one in him before he goes back hurdling.

"It's nice to have a home-bred winner too.

"I knew Katherine was a right jockey from her pony racing days." (DM & EM)