Happy Dreams edges out Wee Charlie in a thriller

The Anna Gannon 90th Birthday Handicap Hurdle looked highly competitive beforehand and so it proved as the 24-runner 2m4f Fairyhouse event provided a thrilling finish with Happy Dreams just coming out on top.

Owned and trained by Michael McDonagh, the 12/1 shot made relentless progress to challenge on the run-in.

Sean O’Keeffe’s mount then fought out a tremendous battle with Wee Charlie and the photo-finish print eventually showed he’d prevailed by a short-head.

The 3/1 favourite Jump The Shark held every chance finishing two and a half lengths back in third, while Early Arrival came home strongest of all just a head back in fourth.

O’Keeffe said, “It was very tight, we were nip and tuck all the way up the run-in. In fairness to my lad he kept trying and battling and I was hoping he was on the right side.”

Quotes by Gary Carson