Latham makes right choice

Jockey Keagan Latham, who is the first choice jockey for Kiltale trainer Ger Lyons, showed plenty of nerve and skill at Tipperary yesterday. Latham was on board the Wille McCreery-trained Bay Knight in a five-furlong maiden at rain-lashed Tipperary. The South African jockey opted to race all alone on the stand side in a deliberate move when the stalls opened. The rest of the field followed a straight line down the far rail as the Dermot Weld trained 5/4 favourite Silver Shoon (opened 4/6) tried to end a run of eight-placed efforts under Pat Smullen. It looked as if Silver Shoon would win, but racing on much better ground on the stand rail, Latham got Bay Knight wound-up inside the final furlong for what turned out to be an easy three-lenght victory. There was a Meath flavour to the opening two races at the Munster track when Moynalty jockey Declan McDonogh completed a double for trainer Kevin Prendergast. Ejteyaaz (8/15) won the opening juvenile maiden, but had to work hard for victory when ridden to challenge a furlong out. McDonogh got to the front inside the final furlong. Cornakill (4/1) won the next race. McDonogh moved up to challenge two furlongs out and went on inside the final furlong by two lengths. Both winners will now head for Galway. And there was Meath man in the winners' enclosure after the last race as well when Johnny Murtagh was on the mark for boss, Aidan O'Brien. Tamarind (2/9) opened her account in fine style when taking the concluding maiden for the Bohermeen jockey.