Ben Dalton is unseated from Prince Of Leisure at the last while Dancing Tornado (inside) goes on to score© Photo Healy Racing
Dancing Tornado (10/3) recorded his first success since March of 2010 as he took the Garryowen Veterans Handicap Chase under Mark Walsh for trainer Michael Hourigan.
Despite the long break since he last tasted victory, the 11yo son of Golden Tornado, has run some excellent races in defeat during that time.
He was placed on his last three outings and was a most deserving winner of this contest.
Having tracked leaders in the early stages, he was fifth after halfway.
He made a mistake at the tenth before making smooth headway to challenge the leader Prince Of Leisure at the second last.
He was pushed along to dispute with Prince Of Leisure before the last but was then left clear when that one fell and he kept on well on the run-in to score by six and a half lengths at the line. Doctor Woodfield finished second at 6/1 under Philip Enright for Cecil Ross while Jadanli was a further seven and a half lengths back in third under Barry Cash for Paul Gilligan at 7/1. Scholars Mate was sent off the well backed 5/2 favourite (opened 7/2 on-course, big as 5/1 this morning) under Harley Dunne for Dot Love but he unseated his rider at the second last.
Michael Hourigan said afterwards: "I said to Frank Berry after his run at Fairyhouse (on Wednesday) that I wanted to run him here as he had more than a bit of work done.
"The young fella (Jody McGarvey) just misjudged things the last day. I told him to drop him in but he ended up nearly a furlong behind!
"These races are great opportunities and I hope they don’t do away with them. I brought Church Island over to England to run in one of them and he was rejuvenated after it.
"I’m hoping there will be one around Christmas for Dancing Tornado."
(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
