Double for O'Keeffe on Galileo-sired chaser

Jockey Sean O'Keeffe completed a double at Sligo today, steering the Tom Gibney trained, Galileo-sired Bold Emperor to a first win in four and a half years in the Brenda Anderson Memorial Beginners Chase.

A brother to 2012 French 1,000 Guineas winner Beauty Parlour, Bold Emperor's only previous win was in a Limerick maiden hurdle in March 2017 and today ended a 22-race losing spell, beating Rebel Waltz by a length and a quarter.

Afterwards Gibney said: “we're happy to get that for him in what was an ideal race - the conditions and everything were right for him. These (0-109 rated) beginners' chases are great to give horses down the handicap a chance.”

Jockey O’Keeffe, earlier successful on the John Ryan trained Kitty Galore added “I got a nice easy lead and he jumped well. The horse was saving plenty for himself everywhere.

“I was trying to wind it up on the last lap. In fairness he was good over the last and I found a bit when I got stuck into him.

Quotes from Mark Nunan