Halpin records his first double

Gary Halpin recorded his first double and his fourth win of the season as he partnered Castle Of Argh to an all the way success in the ‘Stunning’ Apprentice Handicap.

The four-year-old son of Arch is trained by John Oxx and Halpin is now three from three for Oxx having partnered Rayna to two victories in the last week.

Castle Of Argh, who is a four-year-old colt, finished a good fourth behind Money Spider over a mile and a half on his last start at Tipperary in June and he was sent off the well-backed 2/1 favourite this evening having opened at 3/1 on-course (was 5/1 last night).

After breaking smartly from stall one he made all and while he was strongly pressed by Waterloo Sunrise from two furlongs out he kept on best in the closing stages to score by a length and three parts at the line.

The aforementioned Waterloo Sunrise ran a fine race in second under Gearoid Brouder for Shane Duffy at 20/1 while Blackstone (9/4) was a neck back in third under Ana O’Brien for her father Aidan.

John Oxx said afterwards of his Francois Vincent Fabre owned winner: "The fast ground and the mile and a quarter suited him.

"He didn’t particularly stay a mile and a half and he doesn’t like heavy ground so he had conditions in his favour today.

"Today was the day and we will see if we can win something similar with him."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson