Dancer makes all to open account

Prairie Dancer benefitted from a positive ride from Shane Crosse when opening his account in the Ivan Connaughton Auctioneers Maiden at Roscommon.

Crosse bounced out in front on the Territories gelding in the mile-and-a-quarter event and he had a willing partner in the closing stages.

The 5/1 shot, sporting blinkers for the first time, kept on well inside the final furlong to post a length-and-a-half win over Captain Attridge

The Joseph O'Brien-trained Prairie Dancer had chased home Hell Bent on his seasonal debut at Sligo earlier in the month.

Assistant Brendan Powell said:- “He deserved to win as he had been knocking on the door, running well, and I think the blinkers helped.

“Shane said he was always just going enough in front and any time something came to him he kept picking up.

“He'll probably end up staying further but he's quick enough for that mile-and-a-quarter and good ground suits.

“He's done it nicely and hopefully can go on from here.”