James Ryan Crowned Ireland’s Champion Apprentice

[Wandering Eyes]

James Ryan was confirmed as Ireland's champion apprentice on Sunday after his two closest pursuers in the title race, Adam Caffrey and Wayne Hassett, both drew a blank on the final day of the Flat season at the Curragh.

Ryan topped the table with 33 winners when the action got underway on Sunday, two ahead of Caffrey and Hassett on 31 winners apiece. Hassett was involved in six of the eight races on the card and Caffrey had five opportunities to add to his tally, but neither rider was able to eat into the advantage of Ryan, who took the crown despite failing to win on any of his four mounts.

Instead, it was at Dundalk on Wednesday that Ryan secured victory, putting himself in pole position with a double aboard the Ger Lyons-trained Ethical Code (Justify) and Glyde Ranger (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) for Tom McCourt. Ryan, who is apprenticed to the McCourt yard in County Meath, recently won the G3 Mercury Stakes at Dundalk aboard the 66-1 shot Ostraka (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}), his biggest success since having his first ride under Rules back in May 2021.

Before racing at the Curragh, Colin Keane was already confirmed as Ireland's champion jockey for a sixth time in his career, while Aidan O'Brien is Ireland's champion trainer for the 27th time. The champion owner for 2024 is Mrs Sue Magnier, who narrowly got the better of fellow Coolmore partners Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith to retain the title.

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