Mr Bounty and Chris Geoghegan © Photo Healy Racing
Chris Geoghegan, having his first ride in public in two months, showed what a fine jockey he still is when scoring on Mr Bounty in the O'Neills Sports Handicap at Laytown.
Opportunities have become scarce for the former leading apprentice due to weight issues but he grabbed today's with both hands.
The Michael O'Callaghan-trained gelding was produced to claim front-runner Enigma Code two furlongs from home and he kept on well in the closing stages to post a length-and-a-quarter success. Merry Mast came through to take the runner-up spot with Enigam Code plugging on for third.
Blistering Dancer was sent off the 10/3 favourite but got behind in the early stages before running on late to finish fifth.
“That’s a nice birthday present as I’m 26 today. A lot of mine having been finishing second and hitting the crossbar, so it’s great to get a winner and that’s my first runner here,” said O'Callaghan.
“He won at Kempton which is quite a fast track and coming here I thought it would suit him. He likes a fast surface and the straight six furlongs. He could be back here again next year.”
Geoghegan added: “He travelled well and picked up well and did everything right for me. He loves that out there. He ran at Ayr the last day on soft ground and didn't like it, he loved rattling off that.”
(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)
