Sruthan gets lift-off in Concorde Stakes Heavily-backed Sruthan won a thrilling battle with Big Break to give Paul Deegan and Chris Hayes success in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes in Tipperary. Famous Name’s sister Big Break was well punted from 6/4 this morning down to 4/5 favourite. She travelled strongly into this extended seven furlong contest under Pat Smullen to head Most Improved with a furlong and a half to race. However, on her outside Sruthan also came through at this stage to dispute proceedings. The pair pulled clear of the remainder as they fought out first place. Deegan’s charge just held the upper hand in the final furlong and maintained that advantage as he hit the line three parts of a length to the good. The three-year-old had been 10/1 in trading first thing today and opened at 7/1 on course before being supported down to an SP of 11/2. Winning jockey Chris Hayes said: “Full credit to Paul, it was a good training performance. He won the Tetrarch, but he got star struck. He didn’t take the race as well as he should have and he flopped in his next two races, but he thrived from his run in the Curragh. He’s in good hands.” Fort Knox kept on for third with Niall McCullagh at 14/1, two and three quarter lengths off Big Break. Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
