Hows Patsy just prevails in bumper

Hows Patsy won a thrilling battle with Don'tdropmein in Wexford's bumper and landed plenty of bets in the process.

The pair had the race to themselves turning for him as Hows Patsy took over from longtime leader Duffy All Set who weakened out of contention.

Don'tdropmein followed Hows Patsy through into second. The pair were locked together in the final furlong but it was Damien Skehan who got Stephen Ryan's horse up by a short head at 7/2.

Don'dropmein, the runner-up, was returned at 5/1. It was 20 lengths back to The Ryanline (5/1) in third.

The winner was backed from 5/1 to 7/2 earlier in the day after finishing fifth in a Roscommon bumper last month.

Stephen Ryan said: "I expected a big run for him. He ran a lovely race in Roscommon and I thought it was a good bumper there. We were only beaten eight lengths and I suppose he just improved from that run. We thought he was promising all the time.

"Even going to his point-to-point we thought he would win it but a horse fell in front of him and he got hurt and he was off for a while after that but we still felt we had a decent animal. He will go for a maiden hurdle now, he is well able to jump but after the last day I had to give him another crack at a bumper."

TT's Star, the 11/8 favourite, was off the bridle before the home turn and could make no impression. He was pulled up on the run-in before the winning post.

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy