Farrokh causes 22/1 surprise for Connell & O'Sullivan

Farrokh recorded a 22/1 surprise when just coming out best in a thrilling finish to division two of the Follow Us On Facebook Handicap Hurdle at Tipperary.

The Barry Connell-trained gelding struggled in very testing ground on his handicap debut at Limerick last month but found the good to yielding conditions much more to his liking here.

The French-bred son of Manatee made headway before the last to challenge Smallcraftwarning and kept on well on the run-in for Michael O'Sullivan to just get the better of that rival by a short-head. Contrapposto was nearly four lengths back in third.

Connell said, “It was bottomless ground in Limerick the last day and he pulled up so we said we’d wait until we got a bit of nicer ground and put a pair of cheek pieces on. There is a fair bit going on up in his head and I think they helped him to concentrate.

“I wasn’t sure how much battle or fight he’d have but to be fair to him now he got the job done today. It’s a bonus.

“We knew he had a little bit of ability and he got his conditions today and it was great to come out the right side of the photo finish.

“He’ll tip away for the summer. His jumping was very good today, very slick, and you’d like to think he’ll jump a fence at some stage.”