Dandyman Port springs a surprise

Dandyman Port sprang a surprise in the Follow Tipperary On Facebook Handicap, scoring under Shane Crosse for Des Donovan and owner Andy Cosias.

Successful on debut in France in June of 2016, the daughter of Dandy Man failed to follow-up on her next seventeen starts.

She finished well-behind Rapid Reaction at Naas last month, and was last of ten in the race won by St Brelades Bay at the Curragh on Monday.

Sent off the outsider of the field at 14/1 this evening (from 16s), she was settled towards rear by Crosse, and was pushed along from two furlongs out.

Fourth a furlong from home, she was soon ridden, and kept on best in the closing stages, getting up to prevail by half a length. Abstraction (9/2) finished second under Shane Foley for Natalia Lupini, while Amthaal was a head back in third.

Rapid Reaction, who was sent off the 10/3 favourite, set a strong pace, but couldn't keep up the gallop, and faded in the closing stages, eventually finishing fourth.

Donovan said afterwards: "The lightweight helped. Shane gave her a grand ride, he worked his head and didn’t go mad early on.

"We'll keep her at five. She wouldn’t want it any firmer than today.

"She will go to the sales at the end of the year in Newmarket, and she will make a grand broodmare for someone."

STEWARDS REPORTS

The Stewards requested a report from D. Donovan, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Dandyman Port, placed first, as compared with its recent form. Mr. D. Donovan reported that his charge had disappointed in the past for no apparent reason, he felt that the ease in todays going description may have brought about the apparent improvement in form. Having considered the report, the Stewards noted the explanation offered.

B.M. Coen, rider of Sors trained by Andrew Slattery, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was slowly away from the stalls.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes