Raffaello & Nathan prevail in battle of the Crosses

The Crosse brothers battled out the finish to the Leopardstown Golf Centre Apprentice Handicap, with Nathan on Raffaello just getting the better Fancy Footings and Shane.

A well-backed winner at Gowran on Sunday, Raffaello was quickly following-up this evening for owner/trainer Willie McCreery.

Sent off at 3/1, the son of War Command made virtually all. He was ridden over a furlong out and while strongly pressed in the closing stages, he just held on to prevail by a nose.

The aforementioned Fancy Footings was returned the 7/4 favourite, while the Jack Davison trained Eyeoweyou (9/1) was just a neck back in third.

"Nathan said that his brother's horse might not stay. So I said 'make it a bit of a test for him'," said McCreery.

"He said 'I probably didn't go fast enough' but I said 'sure you won didn't you!'

"He's an apprentice and he did everything right. The horse was game under him and it was grand to get another win for him.

"There are plenty of options for him and I'd still say he'd need a bit more of an ease in the ground. There might be a couple of races in Galway for him and we'll have a bit of fun with him.

"He's there for the apprentices to ride. He might go up a bit now and there is a little girl in the yard getting her licence out. She can't ride Sweetest Taboo so she might be able to ride him as he's a oul gentleman to ride."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson