Michael Browne enjoyed a red-letter day as he saddled his first winner on day two of the Bellewstown Festival.
The County Tipperary handler sent out 14-1 shot Ability N Delivery in the Bar One Racing Aertel Handicap and the four-year-old had to show plenty of guts under champion apprentice Emmet McNamara.< Ucanchoose tried his best but eventually went down by a head with Mt Weather just half a length back in third.
Browne said: "He has done it at last. He has been working brilliantly at home and we will probably go for a sprint race in Tipperary in a fortnight.
"This is my first official winner. I used to train horses for my brother, Willie Browne, and I've had the licence about six or eight months."
McNamara made it a double when getting up in the closing stages to land the Bar One Racing Telebetting Handicap aboard the Ger Lyons-trained Palazzone (3-1).
"I'm delighted for Emmet. I don't think the horse handled the track but Emmet gave him a great ride and he did well to win. I'm looking forward to this horse next year," said Lyons.
The John O'Shea-trained Kimberly Bay got favourite backers off to a good start in the opening James Curran Memorial Auction Maiden.
Shane Gorey's mount was the 3-1 market leader and made every yard for a half-length victory.
O'Shea said: "It was probably a weak enough contest and we will probably go for a nursery next. She's a tough little filly and she stays well.
"We have already schooled her over hurdles and she jumps well so we will probably go hurdling with her next season."
Trainer Charles Byrnes enjoyed his second winner of the meeting as Napa Starr (5-1) triumphed under Declan McDonogh in the Anglo Printers Handicap, while Gallery Man created a 25-1 shock in the D Hotel Maiden Hurdle after the last-flight fell of On My Own gifted him a winning chance.
