Private Ryan provided Maynooth trainer John Geoghegan with a welcome change of luck when taking the mile apprentice handicap in the hands of Sam James.

The lightly-raced four-year-old gelding wasn't totally ignored at 14/1 on her handicap debut, and led just over a furlong out before staying on well to beat Suspect Device (6/1) by three quarters of a length. Mount Abora (6/1) was a length back in third, while Chaparro caught the eye staying on strongly just a head further away in fourth.

Geoghegan, without a winner since the Galway Festival last August, said: “He's a nice little horse and he'll improve from that as he's inexperienced. Sam said he'll get further. He's had a lot of niggling injuries with a back problem and a splint. He's been working reasonably well, and the main concern was whether he'd handle the surface as he's by Captain Rio. He'll come back here provided he comes out of this fit and well.”