Long journey for Watson team rewarded as Sorcha Woods rides first winner

The eight-and-a-half hour round trip to Cork for Keith Watson's team proved a worthwhile one on Wednesday, as the second leg of a double provided 10lb-claiming apprentice Sorcha Woods with a first winner under rules.

The 21-year-old rider from Naas, who had previously partnered a point-to-point winner, struck aboard 16-race maiden Odd Venture when seeing off the challenge of Seamie Heffernan on Must Be Dreaming.

"It'll take a couple of days to sink in but it's great to get off the mark," Woods told Racing TV after the 22-1 success.

"I worked for Ted Walsh for nine years, he was great to me and I learned a lot from him and Katie. I rode in point-to-points for two years and then took out my Flat licence after Christmas when my weight was so light."

Harmony Rose: first leg of a Cork double for Shane FoleyCredit: Patrick McCann

Iva Batt got the Watsons on the scoresheet earlier on the card when just prevailing at 4-1 under Shane Foley, who was also bringing up a double after the success of the diminutive but talented Harmony Rose 35 minutes earlier.

The Ken Condon-trained filly had bumped into some useful sorts when third on her first two outings and wasn't winning out of turn at odds of 2-1. The form of her latest course effort was boosted when Amalfi Coast, second on that occasion, opened his account for Aidan O'Brien in the previous contest.

"She's very straightforward, honest and she tries," said the winning trainer. "When they do that you always have a chance."

Results and analysis

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