O'Connor goes the shortest way round on Shamad Derek O’Connor gave Shamad (12/1, from 8s in the morning) a masterful, ground-saving ride to win the Paddy Power Amateur Riders’ Derby for trainer Peter Fahey. Tracking the leaders from his inside draw, the vastly-experienced rider drove his mount through a gap on the rails over a furlong out, and from there the Shamardal gelding ran on to beat the 3/1 favourite Moktamel by a length and a half, with Ultra Pride (7/2) not quite seeing out the trip in third, another half a length away. It was a second career success for the five-year-old winner, who joined his current handler last season from Dermot Weld’s stable. “I'm delighted with him and everything went smooth the whole way through,” said winning trainer Fahey. “We freshened him up a little bit. His last couple of runs were good and the horse that won the last race was behind him when he won in Gowran. “He's just got his confidence and he's stepping up and improving, it was a good performance. “I'm delighted for Fergal O'Neill of Direct Bloodstock who has a lot of horses in with us at the moment. “Fingers crossed we might find something for him in Listowel. He has a handicap mark of 95 over hurdles. “Derek gave him a great ride, he's a brilliant rider, and he plays a big part with Fergal because he does all his breakers and pre-trainers. “As does James O'Haire, who had this horse and had him schooling over hurdles and everything for us.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
