Dandyville another for favourite backers

Dandyville was a fifth winning favourite in-a-row at Dundalk, as he followed-up on a recent course and distance success in the Graeme Woods Memorial Handicap.

Recording a fifth career success on his 17th start, the Natalia Lupini trained four-year-old was sent off the 11/8 favourite in the colours of the Dr J Syndicate.

Settled behind the leaders by Wayne Lordan, the chestnut victor was ridden over a furlong from home and soon got to the front, going on to score by a comfortable length-and-a-half.

The ultra-consistent Hodd's Girl (9/2) was short of room over a furlong out but kept on strongly once in the clear, finishing second under Adam Caffrey.

The front-running Tai Sing Yeh (22/1) was another head away in third.

"He is in very good form and we thought he came out of his last race very well," Lupini said.

"He was in good form at home, so we decided to give him an entry. The race looked like it could have been competitive but we decided to run and it has worked out well.

"He's a very strong finisher and we will see how he comes out of this, we'll let the horse tell us how he is.

"We have a lot to look forward to in the spring, so we would like to keep him for that as well. We would like to aim for the big premier handicaps, the Scurry for instance would be one to aim at for him.

"We'll keep him at that trip and again at a track like the Curragh or Naas where he can finish strongly.

"It is a local syndicate to us."

STEWARDS REPORT

J.J.G. Ryan, rider of Sunday Sovereign (GB) trained by James McAuley, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung left in the straight.

Additional reporting by Michael Graham