Riggins gets up late to keep Ryan in hunt for apprentice title

James Ryan rode an all important winner in his bid to become champion apprentice when getting up close home on Jon Riggens to land the Friarstown Stud Handicap at the Curragh.

Two behind championship leader Wayne Hassett and one behind Adam Caffrey before today, Ryan closed that gap further when producing the Eddie Lynam trained 3/1f from off the pace to head Merisi Diamond close home.

Held up in rear as per his usual running style, the market leader had a wall of horses in front of him despite travelling strongly over a furlong out.

Pushed along in 7th with less than 150 yards to race, Jon Riggens produced a strong finishing burst to collar long time leader Merisi Diamond in the dying strides.

That win saw jockey James Ryan move on to the 29 mark for the current season.

“It was never in doubt!” said Eddie Lynam.

“You have to ride him for luck and they didn't go hard early and then they are sprinting. It's very hard when they get first run on you, even if they are inferior horses, to pull them back.

“He got there in the end. I would have been disappointed as a trainer if I had gone the whole year without winning one with him.

“I had a blip in the middle of the season when his bloods went all wrong and I had to back off him, and then dealing with ground and everything else.

“His only bad run was the Bold Lad and I don't know why, maybe because all the owners were here!

“He's in tomorrow and we'll see how he is in the morning. There is also a race here on the last day for him.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson.