Blast lands a gamble under Orr

The Eddie Lynam owned and trained Balmont Blast landed a gamble as he ran out a comfortable winner of the Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Apprentice Handicap.

Available at 10/1 last night the son of Balmont opened on-course at 7's before being backed into 5/1 at the off.

Settled just behind the leader he was ridden to the front over two furlongs out and he kept on well from there to score by four and a half lengths. The Butche's Filly (20/1) ran on well to take second under Donagh O'Connor for Martin Hassett while Norville (12/1) was half a length back in third under Daniel Redmond for Lee Smyth. Chatterton was sent off the 3/1 favourite and he finished a disappointing seventh under Sean Corby for Paul Flynn.

Oisin Orr, who is seventeen and from Letterkenny, said afterwards: "That's my third winner and I'm down to 7lb now.

"Mr Lynam has been very good to me and given me loads of opportunities. It's good to get the third winner out of the way.

"He did it easily. He travelled away and got an easy lead. He picked up in the straight and quickened up well."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson