Carroll comes home for big Rockingham pot

Irishman Declan Carroll, who has been training in England for 14 years, landed the biggest prize of his career when Whozthecat at 8/1 held on in the five furlong Rockingham Handicap at the Curragh.

Ridden by 10lb claim Luke Leadbitter, the six-year-old in the visor was always in the front rank and hit the front inside the final furlong. Nafa (25/1) and well-backed Yulong Baoju (11/2f from 10/1 in the morning) closed well but were beaten a neck and a head in second and third respectively. Timeless Call (12/1) completed the placings in fourth.

“I wasn’t worried about coming back to five furlongs as he’s done most of his winning over five furlongs. Most ground comes easily to him,” Declan Carroll said.

“I’m based near Malton, Yorkshire for the last 14 years and I trained at the Curragh before that. I started off my apprenticeship with Dermot Weld.

“My biggest win before this was the John Smith’s Silver Cup at York. Money-wise this is the biggest [60,000 euro].

“To make sure of the 10lb claim for this I kept Luke back for the last few weeks. He’s very good value for it and probably missed a couple of winners.”

Luke Leadbitter is 17 and this was his third career success.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee