Bottom-weight Fairy makes the most of his mark

From early in the day Fairy Wing was the lively one in the market for the Ladbrokes Bet In Play Handicap and out on the track the five-year-old, equipped with cheek-pieces, travelled with purpose to the business end. Once asked by Shane Foley to take over from Rocky's Pride under a furlong out, he found what was required to go on and beat Aragorn Rouge by three parts of a length.

Fairy Wing was coming off a 179 day break. He scored on outing number two for Jessica Harrington when sluicing up at Bellewstown in August and then could manage only fourth, twelve days later, when a beaten favourite at Galway. Quill And Vellum bidding to give Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning a double, following Patrimonium s win half-an-hour earlier, came alive in the market on course – 15/2 into 9/2 – but he could only beat one home.

Shane Foley rode Fairy Wing for trainer Jessica Harrington and County Clare owner Mrs Rose Vaughan.

The County Kilkenny jockey remarked: "He's a grand horse and he liked the all-weather. He stuck at it well." (AM & EM)