Drop The Dip lands Listowel gamble

Drop The Dip left ordinary form in the dust when landing a gamble in Listowel's John Thomas McNamara Handicap today, scoring for trainer Tom Gibney on her first start on fast ground.

The Smooth Daddy-filly cruised around in front under Gavin Ryan, making virtually all to eventually beat Amemri by two and a quarter lengths, leaving form-figures of '8880-80' well behind.

Drop The Dip was a steady 18/5 favourite (from 7/2) on 'show' prices but 20 minutes prior to the race, at 4.55pm, was a 14/1 chance and opened 20/1 this morning.

Trainer Gibney was at Tramore and afterwards Damian Conway, of owner Alberta Capital, reported “it is job done and we're delighted.

“It was a low graded race and she had come into a bit of form at home recently and Tom was hoping with the improvement in the ground that she might just win.

“She liked the ground, it was nice and safe and it was straightforward.

“We have a few horses and are selling and breeding horses. She was a cheap purchase (E3,000) and a Swedish girl in my yard bred her. She was always a nice big type and this is a grade below where we'd like to be but maybe she is on the up, as she is a big weak filly.”