Palmones a welcome winner for Flannery

Local trainer Michael Flannery recorded his first win since 2012, as his Palmones took the Costello & McDermott Apprentice Handicap.

A dual winner for Andy Oliver last summer, the four-year-old daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar was sold for E6,500 at Goffs last November.

She didn't show much on her first three starts for Flannery, and was sent off at 12/1 this evening after opening at 14s on-course (was as big as 25s this morning).

Settled towards rear by Denis Linehan, she got a dream run through on the inner from the two furlong pole.

She led with over a furlong to race, and kept on well in the closing stages to score by a length and a half in the colours of owners Brendan Guthrie senior and junior. Usa ran on well to take second at 7/1 under Andrew Breslin for Stephen Mahon, while the 9/4 joint-favourite Try Again was another length and a quarter back in third.

The Danny Sheehy ridden latter led from the two furlong pole, but lost his chance when hanging left on the bend on the entrance to the straight. Mr Adjudicator was the other joint-favourite and he finished sixth.

Flannery, who trains in Ballinrobe, said afterwards: "I was nearly giving this game up and she's my only horse in training at the moment.

"It's a long time since I've had a winner (May 2012) but I've had hardly no runners. I've no horses, the horses we are buying we just aren't able to compete to be honest.

"I'll enjoy this because it might be a while again! It's brilliant, especially here in Ballinrobe.

"She had a lot of issues and it was a case of trying to find those things. She was bought for small money, E6,500, and you don't buy them for that money unless they have a few issues.

"It's great. You couldn't put it together if you tried to. He gave her a great ride. He put her to sleep and then she got home."

STEWARDS REPORTS

T.P. Madden, rider of Lean And Keen trained by Sean Byrne, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung left in the straight.

The Stewards requested a report from M. Flannery, trainer as to the apparent improvement in form of Palmones, placed first, as compared with its recent form. The trainer reported that he fitted a cross noseband for today's run, having noticed that his charge ran with its mouth open on the last start. He added that today's change in tactics, by riding a waiting race, appeared to help his charge return to form. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the explanation offered.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson