Teenager Conor Clarke strikes on just his second ride on 66-1 outsider

Conor Clarke only had to wait for his second ride to celebrate his first winner as the Toomevara teenager won the 5f handicap on 66-1 shot Lord McZie.

On a glorious sunkissed Sunday at Navan, the 17-year-old sported a smile that will last for quite a while after scoring by a head on the Ray Hackett-trained four-year-old.

Clarke said: "That's unbelievable, I can't put it into words.
I became apprentice to Ray about two months ago and this is only my second ride. I'm delighted to get off the mark.

"My first ride was at Cork on this lad as well, over a mile. He was probably a bit out of his depth then, but he ran well all the same and we had high hopes coming here today. I thought I was gone with a few hundred yards to race but I saw a bit of a gap again and he pricked his ears and rallied well for me."

He added: "I wasn't sure if I'd won it as I saw a horse on my outside but one of the lads said 'well done' to me and I was delighted.

"My uncle-in-law Martin Hogan trains a few horses and I got interested in it there. I ride out for Ray Hackett and James Grace now."

Star shines bright in feature handicap

The feature Royal County Handicap, worth €40,000 in prize-money, went to 22-1 shot Star Harbour in the controversial colours of Phoenix Thoroughbreds.

Continuing the good season of Ado McGuinness, Star Harbour made most of the running under Chris Hayes and stayed on strongly to beat Bear Story by three and a quarter lengths.

McGuinness said: "We put blinkers on him last time but he missed the break and got caught in behind. He has a lot of ability and he wasn't a cheap colt. We have castrated him as he was a bit of a boyo and wasn't giving us everything.

“We did feel he had a lot of ability and I said I'd run him in this even though we were a couple of pounds out of the handicap as he'd have a light weight on his back. He put it to bed fairly quickly. He'll be nice for a mile-and-a-half handicap at Galway or as regards closer plans I was talking about the Ulster Derby."

Prettiest looks the part

Prettiest lived up to her name in the opening fillies' maiden and winning jockey Seamie Heffernan was certainly impressed.

Prettiest (right) scores a debut success under Seamie HeffernanCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

The daughter of Dubawi and Alice Springs made all for a decisive success at odds of 5-2 and Heffernan liked what he felt.

He said: "Her homework suggested she was ready to start. I was keen to canter down to the start in front because of the way I wanted to ride her in the race. I wanted to ride her forward. I'd say she's a nice filly and she has a beautiful pedigree. She should progress into being a nice two-year-old."

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