Uncle Danny shows his stamina

After taking several lengths out of the field on the homeward turn, front-running Boru’s Brook looked to have the two-mile bumper at his mercy, but the petrol gauge went into the red in the final furlong as Uncle Danny and Ger Fox thundered past.

Uncle Danny won a point-to-point in Lismore in March and he was expected by some to utilise his stamina in this contest as his price more than halved from 10/1 in the morning to an SP of 9/2.

Trainer John Queally said: “He always struck me as a bumper horse. He has plenty of pace although his experience from point-to-points did count.

Uncle Danny is owned by the L W L Partnership – three owners from Leitrim, Waterford and London. Wally Sturt from London, John Flynn of Waterford and Danny Gray from Leitrim comprise the three. Mr Gray is John Flynn’s Uncle Danny and that is who the horse is named after.

Boru’s Brook, who had no answer to Uncle Danny’s finishing kick, nevertheless took second on debut at 20/1. He was beaten three and a quarter lengths. ‘Shrewdies’ hovered up the 50/1 and 66/1 before racing on this gelding. Easy to back Attribution was third for Gordon Elliott and Nina Carberry.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee