Carroll gets off the mark

Tim Carroll, younger brother of apprentice sensation Gary, partnered his first winner when giving Donnas Palm a well-judged ride in the October Maiden at Navan.

The 7/4 favourite, a smart novice hurdler last season, came with a late charge in the final furlong to lead close home for a three-parts-of-a-length victory.

Trainer Noel Meade was full of praise for the pilot, and predicted a bright future in the National Hunt sphere for the 18-year-old.

"He rides well and is a genuinely good kid," said Meade.

"He is very good over jumps and has done a lot of schooling over fences and hurdles. He's a kid with a future.

"We were pretty confident as he had been working well with the horse that won on Sunday (Go Native).

"I don't know what happened him towards the end of last season - maybe he's better fresh.

"He started off well but had a couple of hard races and just felt the effect. It's quite possible he could go to Punchestown for a race for last season's novices."