Drop Anchor (Brian O'Connell, far-side) just gets there from Lapse Of Reason (Robbie Colgan)© Photo Healy Racing
Drop Anchor s win in the Michael Holland Tyres Handicap Chase at Roscommon, had a significance far beyond its €6,210 value to the winner, as the success of the Brian O'Connell ridden eleven-year-old saw two Tote Pick 6 investors scoop a €198,255.40 dividend.
After a few rollovers the increasingly popular Tote bet swelled to a record pool of €566,443.50 and eleven of the fifteen strong field in the final leg were covered including the runner-up Lapse Of Reason
No doubt there were some watching that endured a serious 'sweat' on the run home as Drop Anchor edged things by a neck.
Drop Anchor hasn't been seen since last November and he recorded his only previous success way back in August of 2010 when scoring in a three mile maiden over hurdles.
Sent off at 10/1 this evening (opened at 12’s on-course) he was held up in the early stages before making progress into sixth after the fourth last.
He was ridden into fourth three out and came with his challenge at the last, hitting the front in closing stages.
Lapse Of Reason (16/1) had to settle for second under Robbie Colgan for Andrew Lynch while Vicalus (14/1) was a further two and a quarter lengths back in third under John Cullen for Susan Finn.
Winning owner/trainer Eddie Cawley said afterwards: "I didn't have a shilling on him. I haven't had a run into him since last November, I knew he was fit but I had nothing for him all summer.
"Usually you'd need the run no matter how fit you'd have them at home. I thought he would run into a place at best. He might go to Kilbeggan now for a three mile race. He is eleven years of age so the ease in the ground probably helped him."
The Stewards received a report from Turf Club Starter, J.R. Banahan, that all the riders had come forward before being instructed to do so, causing a false start in this race. Evidence was heard from the starter and riders concerned. The riders stated that they could not hear the starter clearly which led to them coming forward. The Starter confirmed to the Stewards that the speaker system had not been functioning properly throughout the day. Having viewed the recording of the false start and considered the evidence, the Stewards gave the benefit of the doubt to the riders and took no further action.
The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Baby Whizz trained by Thomas Mullins, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal. Samples were taken for analysis. .
