Crosse completes first treble and is clear fav' for Winter Series

Dundalk's Winter Series is in its infancy but already Champion Apprentice Jockey Shane Crosse has laid down a marker and completed a treble at the venue this evening in the concluding Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Handicap on the Joseph O'Brien trained Too Precious

Crosse partnered 11 winners in the month of October to help secure his Championship and today swiftly moved to the five winner mark for the new Winter Series, as today's treble was added to a double at Wednesday's curtain-raiser.

Trainer O'Brien supplied Crosse's first winner today with Kiss For Luck before the 17 year old rider partnered Ahundrednotout to win for trainer Johnny Feane. Too Precious was then delivered with perfect timing to get up close home and defeat Rips Dream by half a length.

Paddy Power bookmaker has already cut the 5lbs claimer to even-money favourite to win the Winter Series Jockeys Championship, from 2/1 yesterday, and following the finale, Crosse said “she got a nice position the whole way but it was a bit of a rough race most of the way.

“I started to get her rolling early but I thought Conor Hoban's horse might have just gotten away and that I was going to do well to catch him.

“To be fair to her she was game, she put her head down and put the race to bed.

“She's only ran here three times and has never been out of the money and this could be a good place for her now.

“That's my first treble so I'm delighted.”

Quotes from Gary Carson