O'Brien shows her Ability on Great

After recording her first winner of the season on Pepperapot at Gowran this day last week, Katherine O’Brien was in the winners enclosure again this evening as she guided Great Ability (12/1) home in front, in the naasracecourse.com Apprentice Handicap.

The four-year-old son of Great Exhibition finished second to September Lily at Cork on Friday last but he reversed the form with that one, hitting the front a furlong from home and staying on well from there to score by half a length at the line. Enough Is Enough kept on well to take second at 10/1 under Gearoid Brouder for Pat Meany while the 4/1 favourite, September Lily could only manage third this evening, a further length and a half back under Conor King for Willie McCreery.

Katherine O’Brien, who was recording her fifth career success this evening, said afterwards; "I was second on him the last day at Mallow and I thought I could have been a bit closer. It suited him today over the seven furlongs.

"He can be a bit keen and I was trying to settle him in. I didn’t want him to use himself up in the first few furlongs but once he settled he was grand.

"I ride out for Tom Hogan most mornings and I just finished my finals in Sport and Exercise Science at the University Of Limerick on Monday.

"I was over with Gordon Lord Byron yesterday (finished third in York today) and I rode him out. Tom (Hogan) told me not to miss the flight home as he said I’d have a winner today!"

Additional reporting by Gary Carson