Sixteen year old Daly rides first winner

Trainer Ger Lyons completed the second leg of a double at Fairyhouse today when providing 16 year old jockey Evan Daly with his first winner, in the three runner Discounted Tickets @ fairyhouse.ie Median Auction Race, with Roibeard

Daly, riding for just the 12th time today, held up Roibeard in last of the trio as the winner’s stablemate Spader led Special Focus

Daly moved Roibeard closer behind the leaders early in the home straight and in the end the gelding quickened to lead a furlong out before recording a memorable four and a half lengths win over his stablemate.

Daly from Killimordaly, Co. Galway later commented ”I don't have a racing background but got involved riding ponies and spent all last summer in Ger’s. I’ll be there this summer as well but I've another year to go in school."

Lyons, who earlier won with the Colin Keane-ridden newcomer Brooklyn's Rose later commented “Evan is as nice a kid you couldn't find, and it's rare to meet someone these days with his attitude and enthusiasm for the job. The idea will be to get him three winners as quick as we can, and then let him out to others trainers.

“His minimum weight is 8st4lb at the moment, so he can claim 10lb off 9st.”

He added “this horse had sore shins last year, and the ease in the ground helped him. We thought he was smart when he won his maiden last year.

"It looked obvious that (runner-up and stablemate) Spader didn't stay (1m4f) last time, and we probably ran him back a bit too quickly here."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee