Sister Slew sparkles on sand to give O’Brien first win

Champion-jockey Joseph O’Brien tasted success for the first time at the annual meeting on the beach at Laytown yesterday when partnering Sister Slew to victory for Gordon Elliott in the Marquees Nationwide Claiming Race.

O’Brien, who has now ridden a winner at every Irish track except Tramore, had Tom Howley’s Kheleyf filly close to the pace throughout. And she stayed on powerfully in the closing stages to beat Like Magic by three lengths, before being claimed for €5,000 by Martin McManus.

The winning rider explained: “Gordon was confident and he got it spot-on. She travelled fine on the surface and stuck it out well.”