All-conquering Cromwell hands Heavey his first winner

Connections of Gunmaker have made a swift return on investment at Dundalk this evening as the gelding caused a 20/1 upset to win the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Apprentice Handicap for Scottish Grand National hero Gavin Cromwell and jockey Conor Heavey, who was having a first career winner.

Heavey, having just his 11th ride, held the son of Canford Cliffs up in rear for most of the race but the pair scooted past their rivals from the two furlongs pole, and in the end headed heavily backed 5/4 favourite Texas Radio close home, before scoring a three parts of a length win.

Gunmaker had previously failed to win in nine starts for David Simcock and having been bought for 8,000gns on November 2, was today returning E6,160.00 to today's winning Gibirish Syndicate.

Afterwards Cromwell, who won last weekend's Scottish Grand National with veteran Raz De Maree and also has Triumph Hurdle hope Espoir D'allen, stated “Conor has been with me the guts of two years. He went to RACE and never sat on a horse until he went there. He's from Duleek just down the road from me."

Quotes from Alan Magee