Simply True and Mikey Sheehy win the apprentice handicap for trainer Andy Oliver© Photo Healy Racing
Simply True (9/2, from 12/1 in the morning) won the Naas Racecourse Apprentice Handicap in the hands of Mikey Sheehy.
Twice a winner in nurseries last year, the Camacho gelding had come down a few pounds in the ratings after three unplaced runs this year.
His runs hadn’t been without promise, however, and he didn’t get the clearest of runs when sixth in a very warm handicap at Galway last week.
He was the one for money in this concluding event and, having got over from a wide draw, raced close to the pace. Sheehy sent him to the front 2f out, and he galloped on resolutely to beat the 2/1 favourite Lord Park and Bardo Contiguo by a length and a quarter and three quarters of a length.
Winning trainer Andy Oliver said: “Mikey (Sheehy) has ridden two winners for me in the last couple of weeks (Shake A Leg at Leopardstown and this one) and given them peaches of rides.
“He came out of the race in Galway well.
"We thought the wide draw might be a problem but Mikey slid him in and got a perfect position.
"He took over at the right time and stayed all the way to the line. A lovely ride.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee