McCourt and Ryan double up with Arbaawi

Tom McCourt and James Ryan teamed up for a near 78/1 double as Arbaawi recorded a 20/1 win in division one of the Dundalkstadium.com Apprentice Handicap.

The Invincible Spirit gelding won twice for Stuart Williams before joining current connections last autumn and was fitted with a visor here for the first time.

Ryan’s mount came home strongly on the stand side inside the final furlong to beat Ten To Ten by three quarters of a length with Hurricane Helen not enjoying the clearest of passages a further half-a-length away in third.

McCourt said, “I fancied him, I thought he was staying on very well the last day and just got murdered a furlong down.

"I'd say he is an honest enough horse and I think he wants every bit of the mile myself. It was seven the last day. To me, all he does is keep galloping.

"James gave him a great ride, he was very calm on him. He gave him a chance to find his feet and lucky enough he got the bit of a gap and picked up.

"I bought him at the Horses in Training Sale at the end of October. He handled the all-weather and he handled soft on grass. He looks very versatile and I just said at three and a half (thousand) I had to take the chance at that kind of money.

"I got a few lads together for him and I still own half of him. As I say, he has form on soft ground so we have options now."

Arbaawi was available at 66/1 earlier in the day while Ryan and McCourt were also on the mark with course specialist Inishmot Prince in the opening sprint handicap.

Quotes by Michael Graham