Chance To Dance & Kevin Manning cross the line in front© Photo Healy Racing
The Jim Bolger trained Chance To Dance (first time tongue strap) recorded his fourth win of the season as he defied top-weight in the valuable Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nasrullah Handicap (for 3yo's only).
The admirable gelded son of Teofilo won his maiden at Clonmel in May and he followed up in the Cork Derby last month before winning again at the Curragh on the Friday of Derby weekend.
He was third on his last start at Gowran behind Eighteen Summers but he exacted his revenge of that rival today.
Sent off at 5/1 he raced in mainly in sixth before improving to take closer order from before the straight.
He made good progress on the outer into third from two furlongs out and once ridden he hit the front over a furlong from home, keeping on well from there to score by half a length. Magnolia Beach who was sent off the 5/2 favourite, didn’t get the clearest of runs and he kept on well to take second under Colin Keane for Ger Lyons, while Ned’s Indian (14/1) was a further three parts of a length back in third under Leigh Roche (two pounds overweight) for Sabrina Harty.
Jim Bolger said afterwards: "There is a little race in Naas for him next Wednesday for horses that have only won one weight for age race.
"He will be okay as he has been turned out quickly before and we can’t pass up an opportunity.
"We will school him for the Champion Hurdle after that! I think he could be the real deal over jumps.
"He goes on any ground and six furlongs to a mile and a half is all the same to him. All my horses jump and he'll be no different."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
