Let Clics Together surprises

A wet and murky afternoon at a Galway which is in the throes of building work was hardly lit up for punters by the success of the 12 to 1 outsider, Lets Clic Together, in the £10,000 Hogan Handicap. However, it proved a very bright day for the winner's rider, sixteen-year-old apprentice Brian O'Connor.

Lets Clic Together had given O'Connor his only previous winner at Navan in April and, on the soft going, the filly showed a welcome return to form.

The pair had it to themselves from the turn in and O'Connor's 10lb claim looked good value in the closing stages. From Valentia Island off Co Kerry, O'Connor is in his second year at the apprentice school. Although not from an area readily identified with racing, he explained: "My father used to take me racing and he was member of a syndicate. I got interested that way and did a little pony racing, too." Lets Clic Together was a welcome 12th winner of the year in Ireland for Grassick.

Ruby Walsh kept his lead at the top of the jump jockeys table when Willie Mullins's Hazel Honey took the Naughton Handicap Hurdle for the Drive For Show Syndicate. Mullins's string are returning to form after a lean spell and of his stable star, Florida Pearl, Mullins reported: "He's only doing steady exercise at the moment but is in good form. The Ericcson at Leopardstown over Christmas is the earliest he will be out and we won't travel to England until we have to."

Norman Williamson followed up a double at Ballinrobe on Sunday by taking the opening Beginners Chase in easy fashion on Nuzum Road Makers, who was clearly travelling best even with a circuit to go. Richard Dunwoody had been out of luck at Ballinrobe but Eric McNamara's Cnocan Glas was an easy winner for him in the maiden hurdle. Formerly with Francis Flood, the winner has been with McNamara for three months and the trainer said: "His form said he had a good chance in a not brilliant race and he has gone and done it. A handicap at Listowel could be next." Aidan O'Brien had a double when the beautifully-bred Akuna Bay's victory stroll in the juvenile maiden followed up a much harder fought victory for Star Quality in the apprentice race.