Focus comes from the clouds under Crosse Focus Required came from well off the pace to land the Leopardstown Summer Shindig Handicap. Third on his first two starts back in 2018, he missed the following two years and returned to action at the Curragh last October. An eye-catching fifth over the course and distance in April, the Luke Comer trained six-year-old disappointed on his two starts since and was sent off at 20/1 this evening. Settled towards rear by Nathan Crosse, the son of Famous Name was ridden on the outer with less than two furlongs to race and really got going from the furlong pole. He swept through to lead in the final 100 yards and kept on well from there to score by a length-and-a-half. The well-backed Zahee (33s early, returned 15/2) finished second under Cillian McConnell for his father John, while Juyush (8/1) was a head back in third. The front-running Big Dream (16/1) had no more to offer once headed inside the final 100 yards and he finished fourth, while Dark Note, who was sent off the 2/1 favourite, was a disappointing eighth. "He has (found his stride in the final furlong), I thought we went a right good gallop and he settled away lovely. He was behind the bridle when we turned into the straight," Crosse said. "He's a lovely, big, massive horse and he kept galloping all the way to the line. He won going away. "I think a bit of an ease in the ground would be another big help to him. I think there is plenty of improvement in him still. "He will get further being behind the bridle over a mile, a mile and two will help him as well. "I'm very happy with him. "I've eight (winners) left on the claim and I'm building connections all the time." STEWARDS REPORTS * M.A. Enright, rider of Juyush (GB) trained by Miss Jennifer Anne Lynch, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung right on the bend. * N. M. Crosse, rider of Focus Required trained by Luke Comer, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount lugged left in the straight. Additional reporting by Michael Graham
