Havana Dancer leads favourite merry dance Havana Dancer served up a 16/1 surprise in the two mile mares maiden hurdle at Punchestown. Anthony Black's six-year-old raced in second behind clear leader Turtle Power. The leader had come back to the field at the third-last and made a bad blunder at the second-last which saw her come to a virtual standstill. Havana Dancer and Anna Holty were left at the head of affairs rounding the home bend. On the long run to the last hurdle Havana Dancer came under John Cullen's whip but she responded well. Sophie's World, the 4/7 hotpot, began to unleash her challenge and she arrived at the final hurdle just a length behind Havana Dancer. Sophie's World and Mark Enright kept inching ever closer on the outside of Havana Dancer but try as they might they couldn't quite get on terms. There was half a length in it at the finish. Anna Holty at 14/1 was a length and three parts back in third. Andy's Five O'Clock Syndicate were the winning owners. Tommy Dowling broke his collarbone in a fall from Flirtatious Annie. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
