Blackandamber springs 33/1 shock Blackandamber Vic belied a number of disappointing efforts when recording a 33/1 shock for Gort trainer Norman Lee in the two-mile handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse. The lightly-raced Old Vic mare failed to trouble the judge in five outings this year but the drop back to the minimum trip worked the trick to score with some style. Andrew Lynch sent her to the front early in the straight and, after drawing clear before the last, she kept on strongly on the run-in to beat Broadway Twist by nine lengths. Gatesoffrance was a further two and three quarter lengths back in third. Luke Dempsey was hard at work a long way out on 9/4 favourite Hurricane Sky who eventually trailed in a soundly beaten ninth. Lee said, "She didn't handle the real heavy ground in Cork last time. I put a tongue-tie on her and was expecting her to run well off a very light weight but wasn't expecting her to win as easily as that. "She's awful well-bred. She's a grand little mare, she's only 15'2 and is a fun filly. The handicapper probably won't be too easy on her now and we'll run her somewhere in the New Year. "Paul Mullins has been an awful lucky owner for me. He has three horses with me and they've all won." (GC & AM)
