Stanhope & True Blue Moon in dead-heat thriller

Stanhope and True Blue Moon couldn't be separated in the Indaver Ireland Handicap.

Stanhope stumbled on breaking from the stalls and neither looked likely to challenge, as they were both pushed along towards rear from early.

However they powered home down the outer inside the final furlong and flashed by the winning post in unison. Snow Patch (13/2) who raced prominently on the inner was just denied by the aforementioned duo. He had to settle for third, a further neck behind.

Stanhope was returned the 7/2 favourite under Colin Keane for Damian English, while True Blue Moon was 5/1 with Declan McDonogh aboard for Joseph O'Brien.

English said: "They are in great form. I said to Colin that I thought the stumble had cost us the race not realising we'd actually won it still!

"I'm delighted to get another winner. This horse has had a few little problems. We've changed his training a little bit and he ran a blinder the last day.

"The way Twenty Minutes ran up the Curragh I thought this would be banker of the week but then I was afraid we had used up all our luck yesterday.

"When he fell out of the stalls I said we'd definitely used up all our luck but credit to Colin he gave him an absolute peach of a ride and we're getting used to these horses coming from last to first now.

"I've never ran him over further than five and six but I might be tempted to go to Galway for a little handicap over seven.

"Then we could maybe get him ready for a premier handicap on Champions Weekend over six. We'll see as we have plenty of options."

McDonogh added: "Colin's horses stumbled and he nearly fell off. He was straight down on his nose.

"I wasn't sure (passing the post) as I thought the stand's side had the advantage but the bob was good to me.

"We went Prix de l'Abbaye pace and it collapsed across the road."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson