Monaghan & Mourani take Apprentice honours

Marc Monaghan recorded his first success of the season aboard Midnight Soprano in the Group 3 Noblesse Stakes at Cork recently, and he followed up this evening by taking the eFlow Rewardcard Apprentice Derby under the John Oxx trained Mourani

The three-year-old son of Dalakhani went close in maidens last month at Leopardstown and Navan, but he could only manage fifth on his handicap debut over the course and distance earlier this month.

Sent off at 4/1, he raced in third for much of the contest, behind Time Travel and Queen Of Alba with a gap back to the rest of the field.

He then moved through to led over two furlongs out, soon going clear and staying on well in front to scorre by a length and three parts at the line. King Of The Romans finished in second under Ana O’Brien for her father Aidan at 5/1, while Zeftan was a further three and a half lengths back in third under Connor King for Peter McCreery at 16/1. Leah Claire was sent off the 2/1 favourite under Shane Kelly for Willie McCreery but she could only manage a disappointing fifth.

John Oxx said afterwards: "He's a stayer. They went a nice pace, which suited him and they probably let him go a bit, but he stays well and he doesn’t stop in front.

"He goes well on the ground and he’ll stay further.

"It’s great to win a Derby this weekend!"

Additional reporting by Alan Magee