Stamp starts good day for McCourt The Brandon Hotel Handicap saw Stamp Of Authority (14/1) pop up under young apprentice Andrew Breslin to take the spoils for Tom McCourt at Listowel. McCourt was also successful in the first at Laytown, with My Good Brother. Stamp Of Authority had been unsuccessful, though placed a few times, in thirteen previous outings, but here the son of Invincible Spirit was never far away and he asserted a furlong and a half out. The Caroline Jordan-owned four-year-old then held on by a length from Ecoeye. "He travelled well and was the last one off the bridle. He did it well. The ground is sticky and tacky but he loved it in fairness," commented Breslin. "That's my third winner, and my claim now drops to 7lbs." The gambled-on Chillie Billie (10s earlier into 7/2) beat only two home. Donal Kinsella, trainer of Ducky Mallon, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his charge scoped wrong post race. (AM & EM)
