Bookies hit hard as big gambles landed

SECRETSUBSTITUTE and Dearest Girl landed substantial on-course gambles in the flat action at Roscommon last night.

Stepping-up on his seasonal debut run at Tipperary, Secretsubstitute scored a convincing win in the Irish Stallion Farms Maiden, getting the better of Sportsmaster and Minsk to the delight of those who backed him from 10/1 to 100/30.

A son of High Chaparral, and Wayne Lordan’s thirteenth winner of the season, Secretsubstitute is trained by Tommy Stack, whose son and assistant Fozzy explained: “He was a bit unlucky in Tipperary. He got into trouble but came home well. It was probably taking a chance dropping him in trip, but he has a gear. He stays well and will step-up in trip. We have no definite plan for him.”