O'Connor Keeps Hot Streak Going

Mikey O'Connor, who broke a rib and punctured a lung in a fall in a point-to-point about a month ago, rode his third bumper winner in as many days when guiding The Book Thief home to justify 15/8 favouritism in the Loughnagore (Pro/Am) Flat Race.

The Liscarroll, Co. Cork amateur was of course aboard Michael Winters' impressive Tipperary scorer For Bill and at Cork yesterday he rode Rossdara a winner for Tom Copper.

The Book Thief, a point-to-point winner, is a son of Inch Rose, runner-up in the four-miler at the Cheltenham Festival in 2000. He showed stamina in abundance here to account for Happy New Year by fourteen lengths. Eoghan O'Grady trains the five-year-old for this father Arthur. (EM)