Prairie Dancer, second left, finishes with a flourish to catch Watch The Weather, left © Photo Healy Racing
Joseph O'Brien's Prairie Dancer put in a power-packed finish to get up in the final stride of the C Russell Auto Sales Beginners Steeplechase over an extended 2m3f at Downpatrick.
The 15/8 shot looked to have plenty on his plate in third at the foot of the hill, however, he responded gamely to Conor Stone-Walsh's urgings to fly up the hill and collar Watch The Weather (6/4f) by a neck for owners Sean Sweeney and Kieran O'Hare.
Stone-Walsh said: "He has made some money for connections.
"Big thanks to Garry Cribbin (agent) for getting me on him.
"He stays well, but he likes being in front so I was trying to get a good start and be as handy as I could without forcing him. He travelled brilliantly and jumped great bar one or two.
"When I got stuck into him, he really galloped to the line.
"I thought I was beaten to be honest (at the bottom of the hill) but, when I landed, he really galloped for me.
"He was a class horse over hurdles, placed (third) in a Galway hurdle and stuff. The ability has always been there."
This was Prairie Dancer's first success over the bigger obstacles to go with four over flights and three on the Flat.
Stone-Walsh picked up a three-day suspension for frequency with the whip. Meanwhile, Paddy Hanlon, who was on runner-up Watch The Weather was handed a 16-day ban for his fourth offence in relation to frequency with the whip. The same ban was given to Carl Millar who partnered third-placed Air Drop.
