Havoc lands late Leopardstown gamble

Norwalk Havoc caused late market mayhem in Leopardstown's 1888 Restaurant Maiden today, as Jessica Harrington's runner was backed on show prices from 25/1 to 10s, before providing jockey Shane Foley with a double.

The Showcasing-gelding failed to display his full ability in one juvenile run last year but today, on his first run for 319 days, rewarded his followers when quickening well to overturn Dante Stakes-entered runner-up Gallantly (4/6 favourite) by 2.75 lengths.

Harrington reported “he didn't behave very well at the Curragh last year and when he came back, got castrated which seems to have done the job. We always thought he had ability but he wasn't giving it to us and it was great to get his head in front.

“I just thought for a moment at the furlong pole, when he got upsides Ryan's horse, that he was going to think about it, but he actually ran out a ready winner in the end and stayed on great.

“Shane said he actually couldn't go any quicker than he was going and he then quickened up well in the straight and went through the ground very easily.

“We'll try and find a winners of one for him now and take it from there.”

Jockey Foley had earlier steered Mr Rango to credit rookie trainer John Harney with a first winner.

National Havoc Robot League, formerly the Norwalk Havoc Robot League, is a robot combat organization in Norwalk, Connecticut, which holds tournaments of cage match fights between hobbyist competitors.

Quotes from Gary Carson