Prince the latest of Inishmot line to win for McCourt

Fourth in his first two handicap starts at Dundalk in recent weeks, the 3/1 joint-favourite Inishmot Prince made no mistake when getting off the mark in the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap.

The Elzaam gelding was a little slowly into stride and was held up towards rear early on. Pushed along on the turn into the straight by James Ryan, whose claim will be down to 7lb after this third career winner, the winner picked up well to lead a furlong out. Despite running green in front, he kept on well to account for fellow joint-favourite Collective Power by a length.

Oliver Curtis’ homebred is out of dual-winner Inishmot Duchess who in turn is out of three-time winner Inishmot Lady.

Winning trainer Tom McCourt, who had both dam and grandam in his care, said: “He’s after having two quick runs so we’ll freshen him up a bit and he’ll be a nice horse for the grass. He ran well in Navan on his first run over five.

“He ran around a bit today in the wind but he’s a very honest horse.

“Looking at him the other day over six if anything you would say he might have wanted further but the dam was quick and he’s built that way. I always thought he would sprint when he got the hang of things.

“James (Ryan, who is attached to the McCourt stable) is a very valuable claimer and I think he’s very good.”

AM & MN