Dandyville does the business in tight finish

Dandyville swooped wide and late to prevail in a tight finish to the Summer Evenings @Fairyhouse Handicap this afternoon.

The Natalia Lupini-trained gelding was making his second outing in handicap company having finished mid-division at Gowran last month.

Shane Foley produced him with a strong run on the outer inside the final furlong and the 16/1 shot got his head in front close home. Gordon Bennett who had come from behind the winner was denied by a head at the line having met some traffic problems.

The winning trainer said afterwards:- “Shane said he was nearly too keen early on and that he is very honest.

“He's been in very good form and we were a bit unlucky in Gowran as the race didn't work out the way we wanted it.

“We were expecting a good run today and he has delivered. We're looking forward to having a nice season with him.

“The better helped but I don't think he'd mind a cut in the ground, he just doesn't want it soft.

“Six or seven furlongs will suit him. Once he learns to relax a bit more we can step him back up to seven furlongs.”

The Stewards interviewed M.A. Gallagher, rider of Kharma concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. In his evidence, M.A. Gallagher stated that his mount was hanging in behind horses in the straight and he was trying to pull her out to get a run. He added that he had to use the whip once or twice to get his mount out off the horses heels in front of him. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that M.A. Gallagher was in breach of R10(3)(g) by using his whip with excessive frequency. Having taken his previous record into consideration, the Stewards suspended M.A. Gallagher for two racedays.