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- Linehan records first winner aboard Aussie
Donal Murphy
Linehan records first winner aboard Aussie
Denis Linehan after recording his first winner aboard Aussie Guest
© Photo Healy Racing
Denis Linehan recorded his first racecourse success on just his third ride as he partnered Aussie Guest to an all the win in the Follow Us On Twitter Apprentice Handicap.
The Eugene O'Sullivan trained six-year-old won a handicap over the course in August but he was disappointing on his last few runs of 2014.
Making his seasonal reappearance here he was sent off at 8/1.
Drawn on the rail in one he broke well and soon led. He was ridden under two furlongs out and he kept on well under pressure to score by a length and three parts. Prince Jock (16/1) ran well to finish second for Keith and Albert Moriarty while Water Sprite (6/1) completed the placings a further length and three parts back in third.
The 2/1 favourite Danequest finished a disappointing sixth while the well-backed Fainleog (from 8/1 this morning to a starting price of 10/3) was fifth.
Eugene O'Sullivan said afterwards: "He won here over 1m 5f but I thought the trip might be a bit short today. He'll go to Limerick next Saturday for another handicap over 1m4f.
"I'm delighted to have given Denis his first winner as I'm best friends with his father John. Denis and his brother Eddie have been riding out with me since they were kids.
"Denis is 16 and is in fifth year at Kanturk secondary school and when he's not riding out with me, spends his holidays riding out with Johnny Murtagh."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes