Dark Crusader swoops to land gamble

Backed from 10/1 to 7/2 earlier today Dark Crusader duly did the business for Tony Martin and Fran Berry in the mile and three handicap for three-year-olds at Killarney.

She was easy enough to back at the track from 5/1 to an SP of 6/1, but relished the step up in trip having previously raced as far as a mile.

The daughter of Cape Cross travelled strongly off the pace set by Daft Dave At the two pole she was manoeuvred into contention by Berry and the pair then went away a furlong out and won by three and three quarter lengths. Seeyouallincoppers came in second at 20/1 while Sharjah (7/1) took third. Island In The Sun was the 4/1 favourite for David Wachman and Wayne Lordan. She finished fifth, having been eighth a furlong out.

Trainer Tony Martin has been operating at a 33 per cent strike-rate in the last fortnight. This was his sixth winner in this period.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee