Former Champion Apprentice Ronan Whelan gained an overdue first winner of the season when steering That's Plenty to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Habitat' Handicap at The Curragh today in his first winner in his new role as first choice rider to owners Thistle Bloodstock Limited.

Whelan, Champion Apprentice in 2012, failed in 53 previous mounts this term but rectified that temporary anomaly with a length win on That's Plenty, over Bold Thady Quill

Afterwards winning trainer John Shanahan stated “he (That's Plenty) is off to America next week and leaves me unless the boss (Jim Long, Thistle Bloodstock) changes his mind, that's the plan.

“There's nothing here for him, he's not a Listed or Group horse and will have ten stone in all his handicaps and it will get to him eventually. He has been a grand, genuine horse and has been good to me and we haven't done bad getting him from 64 to 100!”

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson