Coakley seals landmark success

Young apprentice jockey Ross Coakley made every post a winning one on board 10/1 shot Liberty Island in Dundalk’s opening five furlong sprint to record his first winner in Ireland.

The gelding broke smartly under his 16-year-old ten-pound claimer and held on in the final furlong from the fast-finishing Desert Ben (14/1) and Primalova (16/1) to win by a rapidly diminishing short head and a head.

The jockey, who is from Monasterevin in Co Kildare, said: “I had a winner in England in February on board Brabazon at Wolverhampton [runs in 3.20 Dundalk today].

“I’m based with Ken Condon and that is my first winner in Ireland.

“I’ve ridden 100 pony race winners in Ireland.” Prescient was returned the uneasy 5/1 favourite, having drifted from an opening show of 4/1, but finished seventh.

Money horse in the race was Ability N Delivery (8/1 to 11/2). He finished a neck away from the first three in fourth.

Joseph O'Brien received a two-day ban for careless riding on Tsar Paul who finished sixth. The jockey found himself short of room two furlongs out and in extricating himself caught the attention of the stewards.