Duty Dance provided trainer/rider Danny Howard with a welcome change of fortune when landing the Follow Us On Facebook Handicap Hurdle at Thurles.

The ten-year-old mare landed a Punchestown handicap for Co. Clare based Howard 11 months ago and has been running consistently since returning this season.

She travelled smoothly to lead entering the straight but appeared to have a real battle on when challenged by Oscar'swan approaching the last.

However a mistake by the latter handed the initiative back, and the 7/1 chance kept on under pressure to prevail by half a length. Thepartysover was a further nine lengths back in third.

Howard said, "She has always run a good race and is tough. She probably wants further but today's ground played to her strengths.

"She is owned by Derek Logue, who owns Bellsbridge Hotel in Milltown Malbay near where I train. There's another handicap for her at Punchestown in mid-February for her next."

(TW & AM)