Rarely, in Ireland at least, are first-time blinkers applied to last-time-out winners but trainer Andy Oliver’s somewhat unorthodox decision to apply them to his Sportsmaster at The Curragh today paid dividends, adding the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Derby to a recent Roscommon win.

Ridden by Ben Curtis, the son of Ad Valorem proved two lengths too strong for Teajaybe having got the better of things inside the final furlong.

Afterwards Oliver stated “we just felt after his run the last day that blinkers would help him to concentrate as he’s still quite an immature horse. We quite fancied him after his run last day and he stayed the trip and loved the ground.”

“Hopefully there’s plenty more improvement to come with him.”

Thomas Weekes