Connor King has been setting a fierce pace in the apprentice championship this season but Ronan Whelan has no intention of letting his title go without a fight judged by a first ever treble at Wexford this afternoon.

Last season’s top apprentice, successful earlier on Morga and Something Graceful (all trained by his boss Jim Bolger), completed a 35/1 treble as Irish Bulletin recorded an unlikely win in the Audrey McGrath Memorial Handicap.

The son of Invincible Spirit, making his seasonal and handicap debut and only getting in as first reserve after a number of rivals were taken out for various reasons, was a strong order in the market.

Available on track at 11/2 before being supported into 3/1 at the off, he looked booked for minor honours as Flowing Air had kicked about four lengths clear over a furlong out.

However Whelan never gave up and his mount really picked up inside the final 100 yards to just get up in the final stride. The pair drew ten lengths clear of Authorative in third.

Whelan said, “I probably should have got stuck into him earlier. That was his first handicap and he’s still green. He’s a nice horse and we always thought that he’d win one of these.”

Following this victory Whelan is now on the 14 winner mark for the season, six adrift of King.

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy