THE Joseph O’Brien-trained Dancing Tango (5/1) stayed on best to claim the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap at Fairyhouse in fine style.

Soon in mid-division under Conor Stone-Walsh, the Camelot filly, owned by Fishdance Limited, had to switch out for a run early in the straight and found her stride in the closing stages to collar Gradulations inside the last 100 yards before stretching away to beat that rival by two-and-a-half lengths.

Assistant Brendan Powell said afterwards: “The idea was to try and be forward on her but she missed the break. He did the right thing and let her take her time.

“When she turned in, the one thing about her is that she does stay further. When she hit the hill she just outstayed them in the end, she’s gone away and won nicely.”

Jackie Brown (5/1) had shown much improved form when second at Sligo on her previous start and went one better in the six-furlong handicap for three-year-olds.

Ben Coen’s mount tracked the leaders and came through to gain a narrow advantage in the final furlong before clinging on to repel The Foghorn by a short-head

Winning trainer Tony Martin said: “The jockey knew her well from last year and gave her a brilliant ride. It’s great for the lads (Starglazing Ltd), they are local to me and it’s lovely to win at their local track for them.”

Good style

The 10-furlong claimer for three-year-olds was won in good style by 13/2 chance Sapristi.

The daughter of Free Eagle tracked the leaders under Jamie Powell and came through to hit the front two furlongs out.

Quickly clear, she kept on well to score by a length and three quarters from Child Of Lir who was later claimed by trainer Rebecca Menzies for €10,000.

John O’Donoghue, who trains the winner for Max Plapp, said: “I think the ground is the key with her, she’s a summer ground filly. Handicap options are there for her now and I think there is plenty to look forward to.”

ALMA Libre, third in the corresponding race last year, took the mile and two-furlongs apprentice handicap for Natalia Lupini and Danny Sheehy.

The Kodiac mare, owned by the Poobles Men Partnership, was dropping in class and took full advantage to gain a first win at odds of 7/1.

Having tracked the leaders, she was pushed along from early in the straight and led over a furlong out before clinging on to beat Barrys Rock by a head.

“We had this race in mind as we’re aiming to run her in the Apprentice Derby at the Curragh over a mile and a half. We think she’ll get that trip okay on nice ground,” said the winning trainer.

The upwardly mobile Lupini completed a double when Running Cool (10/3) took the six-furlong maiden under Wayne Lordan in the colours of the trainer’s partner Craig Bryson.

Always prominent, the Bobby’s Kitten colt led from halfway and kept on well to beat Paradise Perfect by three-quarters of a length.

Powerful

“He’s a big, strong, powerful horse. Today he kept galloping to the line and Wayne said he wasn’t stopping and he thinks there is more to come from him,” said Lupini.

The form of Matt Connor’s win at Cork on his previous start had worked out well and the 3/1 favourite followed up in the mile and two-furlong handicap for three-year-olds.

Bill Lee tracked the leaders on the Teofilo gelding who was travelling well in third on the home turn.

In front a furlong out, the Henry de Bromhead-trained winner kept on well in the colours of the Patocallaghanracing Syndicate to beat Picture Of A City by a length and a half.

“I thought in Cork that he was a little bit green in front and he was a little bit like that again with me today and was rolling around with me but he galloped well to the line,” said Lee.

“He’ll go a mile and a half no problem and he’ll maybe jump a hurdle down the line. He’s an exciting one for the lads to have.”

BILLY Lee completed a double on Cherry Bloom (7/1) in the first division of the Book Tickets Online @Fairyhouse.ie Handicap.

Trained by his sister Gillian Scott for the Cherry Bloom Syndicate, the four-year-old gradually wore down the front-running Florence Thompson in the final furlong to score by half a length.

“We bought her a while back when she was rated a lot higher, she had a few niggles but this year she’s been running consistently. She was going to get her turn, she just wanted a little bit of luck today and she’s done it well.”

The second divide of that six-furlong contest went to Secret Road (7/2) who was by far the easiest winner on the card.

Headway

Dropped out by Colin Keane from a wide draw, he made good headway on the outside from early in the straight and swept to the front over a furlong out before going right away to beat Peerless by seven lengths.

After a brace at Roscommon in the afternoon, Keane was making it three winners on the day on his father Gerry’s charge who is owned by Dominick Glennane.

“We’re going to get a hike aren’t we!” said Keane senior. “I thought we were beat with the draw before we went out, I didn’t think he’d do that to be honest.

“Colin lost his stick and everything but he drove the head off him when he lost his stick, if he had his stick he probably wouldn’t have won as far.

“Once they win I won’t complain, it’s so hard to get a win in this country.”