Michael Graham
Cracking Name earns her keep again
Cracking Name, red cap on outer, swoops to conquer
© Photo Healy Racing
First-reserve Cracking Name flashed home down the outside to grab the spoils in the J.F. Hanley Handicap over an extended seven furlongs in Roscommon.
Wesley Joyce switched Talking Tough out to unleash his challenge at the furlong pole. The pair got to the front in the final 100 yards, but Cracking Name finished strongest of all on their left as she swooped close home under Oisin Orr.
David Marnane 's seven-year-old mare won by half a length at 20/1 from the 10/1 runner-up. Kudbegood the 3/1 favourite, suffered a nightmare passage in the final quarter of a mile before being switched to finish third, beaten a length and a quarter by the winner.
Orr said: “The last day in Leopardstown I was very unlucky, I didn't get any run.
“Today we decided we'd come with a run down the outside and luckily it worked. We went very hard early on and they came back to me, which suited her. She loves a good gallop.”
Cracking Name got a run when Adapt To Dan was pulled out after running unplaced in Dundalk yesterday.
She has now won seven times including at least once in the last five calendar years.
Marnane had an 18/1 victory with Tynamite on the aforementioned card in Dundalk.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson