Racing:Dandy Boy pulled off a carefully-engineered plot when swooping late to thwart a huge gamble on Mabait in the Victoria Cup at Ascot.
Advertising his claims for the Royal Hunt Cup here next month, the David Marnane-trained four-year-old produced a storming run to get up and pip Mabait under Colm O’Donoghue and score by a neck. Marajaa was half a length away in third.
The 16-1 chance was adding to the fine big-race record of his pilot, who as one of Aidan O’Brien’s regular jockeys has won a French 2000 Guineas on Astronomer Royal as well as the Chester Vase and the Dante Stakes last season.
Tipperary-based Marnane, who trains the winner for Malih L Al Basti, said: “His comeback run at Dundalk was very good, and although we were a bit worried about his (low) draw he did it really well.
“He has plenty of speed and is a horse you could race over six furlongs, although he gets this trip (seven furlongs) well. Colm’s done a lot of work on him at home and is a big asset to the yard.”
O’Donoghue had walked the track with Marnane and said: “After that we were happy to ride to our draw. This has been the plan for a long time and David thought the race would suit him.
“I ride most of David’s at home and this one has come here trained for the job.”
Marnane explained that Dandy Boy was bought out of the breeze-ups after being sent there by his brother Con. He added: “The owner is a good friend of the family and comes from Dubai. I’m delighted for him.
“The horse is entered in another handicap at Leopardstown, but the mile race here (Hunt Cup) could be an option.”
Also Royal meeting-bound is Alsace Lorraine, whose exaggerated move from almost last to first in the Bovis Homes Fillies’ Handicap would have tested the nerve of even jockey Jamie Spencer’s most ardent admirers.
The combination in the end scored with a tad up their sleeve at 6-1 from First City and Off Chance, and trainer James Fanshawe commented: “She’s always been a filly I’ve liked and I felt off her mark she wasn’t too badly in.
“She’s lightly raced, and the owners are keen to go for the Windsor Forest Stakes with her. The straight course here has been very lucky for me in the past.”
Spencer was impressed by the change of gear shown by his mount and added: “At halfway I thought I was in trouble but I had to let her relax and put her to sleep. What impressed me was the way she quickened from the two pole to the post.”
Richard Hughes suffered a heavy fall when his hanging mount Kojak unshipped him approaching the final furlong of the McGee Group Maiden Stakes, won by the Mick Channon-trained Chilworth Lad.
Hughes went for a check-up at the Heatherwood Hospital after complaining of pain in his leg. Channon said the 13-2 winner could come under consideration for one of the juvenile races at the Royal meeting next month.
On a day that threw up several Royal clues, Ermyn Lodge (17-2) stated his case for the Ascot Stakes with a gallant all-the-way triumph in the Europa Events Diva Beach Chelsea Handicap.
Tadhg O’Shea’s mount responded gamely to his pilot’s urgings to hold Bow To No One and Aaim To Prosper, after which trainer Pat Phelan said: “Tony Smith owns the yard where I train (Ermyn Lodge) and asked me to find one good enough to name after it.
“I bought this fella from the Heatherwold Stud as a yearling and fortunately got it right, as he’s a progressive type. My one concern is that four-year-olds don’t have an especially good record in the Ascot Stakes, while there’s the question of whether he would get in. He’ll also be considered for the Goodwood Stakes.”
David Elsworth’s Barshiba (11-4) has impaired sight but there can be few gamer mares on the circuit.
She showed her courage in refusing to let odds-on Duncan go by in the John Doyle Buckhounds Stakes, scoring by half a length under Hayley Turner despite having taken a fierce grip throughout the Listed contest.
Elsworth said: “She was doing far too much early on. She was race-fresh but battled on really well. Last season she hit a good note in June, and I know she’ll be a better filly when she runs in the Hardwicke next month as she always needs her first run back.”
Jeremy Gask provided the length and a half winner of the Alfred Franks & Bartlett Sunglasses Handicap in the shape of Medicean Man, who Jimmy Quinn brought home in clear-cut fashion from Wildcat Wizard.