Chance To Dance awarded contest
The Colin Keane-ridden Obliterator, running for the first time since being gelded, got the better of favourite Prince Of All early in the straight but drifted right, under pressure, inside the final furlong, hampering Chance To Dance, the mount of Kevin Manning, which stayed on dourly, failing by a head to catch Obliterator.
In the enquiry, the Stewards were satisfied that the interference had cost Chance To Dance the spoils and, on that basis, reversed the placings.
Chance To Dance, making his debut on polytrack, was registering his fifth win of the season and his rider stated: “There was plenty of interference up the straight. My horse was gaining with every stride and I think I would have got there.”
Having given apprentice Conor McGovern his first success here last week, the Michael Halford-trained Slipper Orchid mare, with McGovern again on board, made it four from five at Dundalk when getting on top late to beat Kiss The Stars in the Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Handicap. She’ll return to Dundalk for the listed Cooley Stakes over a mile on October 31.
The two-year-old maidens produced shocks with 20/1 shot Algonquin, ridden for Jim Bolger by Rory Cleary, getting the better of badly-drawn, odds-on favourite Sacrificial in the opener.
Shane Donohoe saddled a rare two-year-old winner when Sparklingsovereign (like Algonquin by Archipenko) proved a convincing five lengths winner of the fillies event, the 33/1 outsider giving Leigh Roche his 31st win of the season.
Donohoe commented: “She’s been working well, but that was a bit of a surprise. She’s a hardy bit of stuff and kept galloping. She’ll probably be sold.”
At Downpatrick, Gordon Elliott continued in superb form, completing a treble with Crown Theatre, Formal Bid and Luddsdenene to bring his tally to eight winners in just three days.
