Extensio comes good on better ground for O'Donnell

Extensio lunged late to land the spoils in the second division of the mile-and-a-half handicap at Tipperary.

7/2 favourite Battle Angel got her head in front in the closing stages but was trumped in the dying strides by Pat O'Donnell's charge.

Billy Lee had held his mount up, rear of mid-division, before asking him to make up ground on the stand's side in the straight.

The Xtension gelding hit his stride late on to secure a neck success over Battle Angel, while Wojood also finished off well between the pair, half a length back in third.

"Last year was a wet year, that's why he ended up running on soft ground all the time but there was no intention,” said O'Donnell.

"I was quietly harbouring hope that the distance and the better ground would bring about improvement but had no proof. He is a smallish, good moving horse so the indications were he would go on it.

"I told Billy he was a bonny, relaxed horse but gave him no instructions. That's Billy's first winner for me - he actually rode for me over hurdles in the past and we know the Lees for years."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)