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Common Practice wins thrilling Apprentice Derby

Common Practice, near side, wears down Alma Libre, far sideCommon Practice, near side, wears down Alma Libre, far side
© Photo Healy Racing

Joseph O'Brien's Common Practice took a marked step up in trip for the 1m4f DNG Apprentice Derby at the Curragh and needed every yard to get up in the final strides. Alma Libre went for home a furlong and a half down and was chased through by Common Practice. The leader had got first run on him and was boxing on along the far rail for Mikey Sheehy.

She kept toughing it out, however, Common Practice ran on well down the centre of the track in the closing stages for Dylan Browne McMonagle to just collar her.

The 3/1 favourite got up by half a length from the 9/1 runner-up. Tudor City was three and a half lengths adrift in third at 11/2. Impero (15/2) completed the placings in fourth.

"He hit a little flat spot off the turn but he finished off well,” said O'Brien.

“We were a little bit worried about the trip coming here but he looked like he hit the line strongly.

“It's quick ground, if you had a soft ground they'll find it a bit quick but we're more than happy with it for quick-ground horses.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

1st
3/1Fav
Tote €4.00 €2.00
2nd
0.5L
9/1
€3.10
3rd
3.5L
11/2
€3.10
4th
0.5L
15/2
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.