Young Letterkenny joy Brandon Wilkie has claimed his first ever winner.
Wilkie ever winner aboard the Tim Easterby-trained Parys Mountain in the 7f apprentice handicap earlier this week.
Wilkie kept his cool when his mount reared at the start and gifted lengths to his rivals before sweeping home from last to first to score on his 18th career ride.
The 18-year-old hailed the support of the Easterby family after the jockey rode a first ever winner aboard the Tim Easterby-trained Parys Mountain in the 7f apprentice handicap.
Wilkie learnt his trade at Grade 1-winning trainer Eddie Harty’s yard from the age of 15 and moved to England in September 2020 before suffering a setback.
He hailed the support of Easterby and his family for sticking by him when he broke his leg.
Wilkie, a one-time promising young GAA player at Glenswilly, was delighted by his win.
“I would have been riding last year but I broke my leg in February riding out one morning,” explained Wilkie to Racing TV. “That left me out for six months. I was lucky to get back riding at all, so I’m happy now.
“I love Tim, when I broke my leg he treated me like a son. I lived in the house with him when I couldn’t get up the stairs at home. They’ve done so much for me, I just have to thank Tim and Sarah, all of the Easterbys; Will, Emily, Thomas – they’ve all done great by me.”
