Windward negotiates good Passage

Windward Passage at 20/1 was a shock winner of the concluding mile and one rated race in Tipperary.

With two ‘duck eggs’ beside his name this season, punters were quick to pass over him although some Tote patrons were evidently clued in as he only paid 13/1 there.

Fergal Lynch had him always to the fore and as the field set sail for home Windward Passage kept finding more as Lynch worked hard on him. The pair fought off Crafty Codger by two and a half lengths.

Handler Patrick Prendergast said: “He was gelded before his second last run. He had been very aggressive and hard to train and it seems to have taken a while for his testosterone levels to drop. It was his first time wearing blinkers, but he had always worked well but had been frustrating.” Brog Deas Nua and Paddy Mac were both taken out of the race due to the change in going.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes