The formbook said it and the formbook was right. The handicap good thing Spirit Dancer duly won the Great Southern Handicap at Killarney last night but at the two furlong mark, the evens SP looked anything but a gift from God.
After cruising up to dispute the lead early in the straight, John Murtagh's elbows suddenly started to pump rather urgently on Spirit Dancer. For those who had witnessed his easy Dundalk success over an apparently inadequate trip on Friday night, and given only a 5lb penalty for it, this was not in the script.
Red Piper, Knockdoo and Loquacious were all still in it but despite not appreciating the sticky ground, the favourite responded to Murtagh's urgings and eventually got home by two lengths from Red Piper with Loquacious and Knockdoo dead-heating for third.
"He hated that ground. I told John that the only thing that would beat him was the tacky going," said a relieved Co Meath trainer Ger Lyons.
"We had to run with that penalty because we were 7lbs right but when they crawled early in that ground I was worried. John says he'll win again and he's in at Roscommon next week but I would say that's doubtful," added Lyons.
The ground also made all the difference in the Meniver Handicap Chase but this time the winner, Strong Hicks, thrived on it and taking it up from Astings at the third last he galloped home a comfortable winner from Oakler.
The stewards enquired into Strong Hicks' improved running compared to his previous effort at Down Royal but accepted trainer Francis Flood's explanation that the softer ground and blinkers made all the difference to the ten-year-old.
"It was much to lively for him at Down Royal. If it dries up now we'll let him off and if it doesn't, we won't!" Flood said. It was an especially memorable day however for Turloughmore, Co Galway trainer Kevin McDonogh. Windy Project was a 12 to 1 shot despite having run sixth to Spirit Dancer at Dundalk but the bottomweight didn't know his price and prominent throughout, Niall McCullagh's mount beat off the favourite Sea Fisher by two lengths.
"That's my first winner in over two years so it was time for a change," said McDonogh whose greatest success was the 1989 Galway Hurdle with the 33 to 1 shot I'm Confident. "This is no shock. I backed it because he didn't get the trip at Dundalk and still wasn't beaten that far," he added.
Backed from 2 to 1 to 6 to 4, Sallie's Girl idled briefly in the middle of the mares maiden hurdle but then proceeded to dominate the race in the straight and Jason Titley only had to do the minimum to get Noel Meade's horse home by nine lengths.
"She's a lovely mare but she wasn't concentrating so I gave her a crack. She just took off," said Titley.
Anther favourite to oblige was Christiansted who gave apprentice Declan McDonogh his fourth victory of the season by beating Dusky Lamp in the Derrinstown Claiming Race.
McDonogh briefly dismounted the winner after pulling up and trainer Jermey Harley said the gelding had burst a blood vessel. "He's alright though and it's worse when they burst and don't win!" Harley added. Christiansted was subsequently claimed by a new owner for £9,102.
Nellie Gale was the market choice for the hunters chase and kept the punters happy but the odds on newcomer Native Marsh weakened in the straight in the bumper and could only manage a third to Supreme Beauty.
