Skippin Court a big hit for Dexys Midnight Runners and Galway gig could be next

Sunday: Sligo

It was a pity none of the Dexys Midnight Runners Syndicate was present to see Skippin Court land the 2m1f opportunity handicap hurdle.

The course team were alive to the situation and blasted out Come On Eileen over the public address as the 13-2 shot came back into the winner's enclosure.

The five-year-old put up a good performance under Neil Ryan, coming back well after an untidy jump at the last to see off Peckham Springs by three and a quarter lengths to leave trainer Peter Fahey bathed in smiles.

He said: "He wasn't right after his Punchestown run and we gave him plenty of time. It's great that Neil got a spin on him and won because he's a friend of the owners."

More of the Leixlip-based syndicate are likely to be present if Skippin Court turns up for a handicap hurdle at Galway later this month.

Fahey added: "He'll definitely be better with a step up in trip and we'll probably go for one of the two-mile-five-furlong handicap hurdles at Galway. They went a good gallop and plenty of stamina was needed, and being wide on the better ground helped. He'll be even better over a fence."

Broderick ends wait

Shane Broderick saddled his first winner since 2016 when the unexposed Sphagnum ran out a convincing winner of the 2m4f handicap hurdle under Denis O'Regan.

Dropping back in trip, the five-year-old put in a solid round of jumping and stayed on strongly from the final flight to score by eight lengths from Zaccarela, with the favourite Presenting Lad just behind in third.

O'Regan said: "He wants real good ground. I felt the ground had cut up on the inside, so I kept him to the outer and he seemed to appreciate that good ground.

"He jumped well and that was key to the win. It's great to ride a winner for his owner Ray Loughnane. I ride Snugsborough Benny for him and Shane too."

Geoghegan's Simple pleasure

Robbie Geoghegan rode his first track winner since he was an amateur in the 2007-08 season, and his first as a conditional, when landing the 3m2f handicap hurdle on the Norman Lee-trained Not So Simple.

The rider, who had been out of the game for about six years until returning last season, said: "I've had a few point-to-point winners since my last winner on the track. I was in Australia for a while and came back to work for Norman during Covid. He gave me a chance to get back into it and it's great.

"I went over to Australia with the jockey Tom Ryan and rode out with him. I met a lad in a pub over there who told me there was good money in construction, so I went into that and did it for a few years in Melbourne."

He added: "I was delighted to get the chance with Norman and hope I can kick on now."

Results, replays and analysis

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