Fainleog fends off A Likely Story

Ann Marie O'Shea's Fainleog (7/1) held on by a head from A Likely Story on very testing ground in Tipperary's five furlong sprint.

The going on the sprint track had deteriorated to heavy, soft in places.

Pat Smullen and A Likely Story (3/1) broke well to lead. With a quarter of a mile to go, all the jockeys were off the bridle on the nine horses that contested this race.

A Likely Story held a healthy lead of a couple of lengths entering the final furlong but Fainleog and Adrian O'Shea began to pick up and cut into the deficit.

They got on terms in the final 100 yards and edged ahead 50 yards from home. O'Shea faced a worrying few moments when he appeared to sit up just short of the line but his mount took the honours by a head from the rallying A Likely Story. Sufoof the 2/1 favourite, finished four and a quarter lengths adrift in third.

Adrian O'Shea said: "She had a few issues when we first got her but we sorted them out and we have a real good one now.

"We tried her over a mile and a half the first day but she didn't stay. She has gears though and wants fast ground and you won't get worse than that today.

"We'll see where we go from here."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes