Jon Ess records first turf success

The Conor O'Dwyer trained Jon Ess recorded his first turf success, as he took the Corkracecourse.ie Apprentice Handicap.

A three time winner on the all-weather at Dundalk, the son of Dragon Pulse was last seen finishing eighth over hurdles behind subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Klassical Dream.

The five-year-old gelding was sent off a 4/1 chance today under Tom Madden in the colours of the Brinkleys Syndicate.

In front early on, the chestnut victor was eventually settled behind the leaders on the inner.

He was pushed along to challenge from the two furlong pole and was soon ridden to the front, keeping on well in the closing stages to score by a length and a quarter. Cork Harbour ran a fine race to take second under Andrew Slattery for Ken Condon at 16/1, while Latchet (11/4f) and Athenry Boy (20/1) were third and fourth respectively.

Madden said afterwards: "He was rated a lot lower on grass than the all-weather but had been running well on the grass over hurdles recently. Conor placed him well today and he is a very straightforward horse and was in my hands the whole way today."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes