Isotope deals with the elements well Isotope and Mikey Sheehy teamed up to land the apprentice handicap in Roscommon for Joseph O'Brien. He had the leaders in sight but was pushed along in sixth on the inner approaching the final half a mile. The four-year-old gelding responded to pressure, though, to pick up the chase in second with a quarter of a mile to travel. He wore down On The Balcony a furlong and a half out and was soon driven for home by Mikey Sheehy. There was no stopping the 5/2 favourite as he won with ears pricked by three and a half lengths. Maricruz (16/1) came in second ahead of 7/1 shot On The Balcony. Assistant trainer Brendan Powell said: “Mikey said he was first off the bridle and pricked his ears when he hit the front but he stuck at it well. “The ground was an unknown but he seemed to cope with it well. On the form from the Curragh he was good enough to win it. “It’s just nice to get his head in front as it has been a long time coming for him. Now that he has, he might go and do it again with a bit of luck. “He could go back over hurdles but may stick to this for the moment. That’s up to the boss to decide.” Additional reporting by Alan Magee
