Call Me Pj is ridden out by Johnny King to beat Dandridge and Nina Carberry© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Fitzpatrick recorded his first racecourse winner in nearly four years as his Call Me Pj took the bumper at Kilbeggan, the Tom Birmingham Menswear Flat Race.
The seven-year-old son of Fath ran a cracker on his debut at Ballinrobe last month, finishing two lengths off Run Fly Run, and he was sent an easy to back 9/2 chance (was 3’s in the morning) to go one place better this evening.
Ridden by Johnny King he was settled in mid-division before making progress over four furlongs from home, moving into second approaching the straight.
He was ridden to lead just inside the final furlong and despite some bumping with Dandridge he kept on best in the closing stages to score by three lengths.
Dandridge was sent off the 3/1 favourite and he had to settle for second under Nina Carberry for her uncle Arthur Moore while Mr McGuiness (9/1) was a further two and three parts of a length back in third under Harley Dunne for Yvonne Latta. Behana was backed from 6’s to 4’s on-course and she finished fourth.
Willie Fitzpatrick said afterwards: "He had a great run first time and we were actually a bit surprised, but we knew after that we had a decent horse.
"He'll probably go for a winners' bumper now wherever we can find one."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
