Jabbar wins for Hayes & O'Leary

Jabbar (6/1) won the Bellewstown Racecourse Apprentice Handicap under Amy Jo Hayes, giving Ger O'Leary his fourth winner of the year.

The Galileo Gold gelding, a two-time winner last season who made a reappearance after a 220-day break, was ridden in mid-division on the outside early in the straight but steadily gained ground to lead into the final quarter-mile.

He was most likely ahead quite quickly, but he held on to defeat Sixpack by a half-length.

“That was a superb ride. Dean Curran is with me now, he won on Jabbar here last year and came from the next parish. I let Dean instruct Amy how to ride the horse and she did exactly what he said,” said O'Leary. “She was very polished. She restrained him early, as he was a bit free, and got cover. It was a beautiful ride and I'm delighted for her. I'm delighted for the lads in the yard as well, we have a fantastic team. We have the schooling over hurdles done with him and he'll go for a summer maiden hurdle. We'll see what the handicapper does with him here, he can't do a whole lot I suppose, and there might be another one of these if the ground is easy.”