First winners come don’t come much more deserving that apprentice jockey Gary Phillips’ first in the Follow Naas Racecourse on Facebook Handicap at Naas this evening, riding Joe Eile to a narrow win over Westtower Boy

Phillips had previously filled the runner-up spot on each of his last three starts and, following tonight’s short head win, had to overcome a stewards’ enquiry.

Afterwards winning trainer Ger Lyons stated “Gary did everything right for a 10lb claimer. He has had a lot of second placings recently and hopefully he’ll have a few more winners now and get going.”

Thomas Weekes