King and Queen combine to good effect Connor King is now four ahead of Colin Keane in the race to be champion apprentice, as he partnered Valley Queen to victory in division two of the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap. The Tom McCourt trained four-year-old daughter of Three Valleys was sent off an 8/1 chance on her twelfth start for McCourt. She was previously trained in the UK, where she manage one win from nine, the victory coming at Windsor in October of 2012. Settled behind the leaders, the bay filly was pushed along entering the straight, and she came with her challenge over a furlong out. She just edged ahead close home, getting up to score by a neck from Hoppsan in second under Gary Carroll for John McConnell at 7/1. Bomber Jackson ran well to take third a further neck behind under Shane Foley for Jane Foley at 25/1. Secret Locket went off the 9/4 favourite for Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen and she finished back in fifth. Tom McCourt said afterwards: "It was a very intelligent ride by Connor. We will tip away with her here during the winter and hopefully we can scrape another one with her." Additional reporting by Gary Carson
