Jumbo Steps & Gary Carroll on their way to victory for trainer Johnny Levins© Photo Healy Racing
Johnny Levins, who tasted plenty of success in the saddle, recorded his first win in the training ranks as his Jumbo Steps ran out a game victor of the Follow Fairyhouse On Twitter Handicap, providing his rider Gary Carroll with a double on the card.
Formerly trained by Tim Doyle, the six-year-old son of Footstepsinthesand was making his debut for Levins this evening and on his twenty-four start, he was finally getting off the mark.
Sent off at 9/1, the Seamus Mannion owned gelding, made all, coming home a length and a quarter too good for the Peter Fahey trained Right Divine who kept on well to take second at 25/1 under Ronan Whelan. Samollie was a further three parts of a length back in third at 9/2 under Shane Foley for Garvan Donnelly, while the 9/4 favourite Smoke Charger could only manage fifth under Colm O’Donoghue for Paul Deegan.
Levins, who is thirty-two, said afterwards; "I'm training on the Curragh and I only have my licence a few weeks.
"All credit goes to Gary (Carroll) really. He rides work for me every Friday and he was really sweet on him.
"I’m only learning about this horse as I haven’t had him for too long but he has been working very well.
"He is entered up over the weekend (Limerick on Saturday and Cork on Sunday) and I might run him again.
"I’m delighted for his owner Seamus Mannion. He was a great supporter of mine in my riding days and he has a couple of nice horses with me."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
