Lavery knows best aboard The Dancing Tree

The concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race turned into a messy affair, with honours ultimately going to The Dancing Tree (9/1 from 3s early), who readily accounted for his five rivals.

Declan Lavery opted to go the shortest way around on the inner aboard the easy-to-back Gavin Cromwell trained bay and he was joined by outsider Half A Chance (66/1).

Come the business end, the pair finished first and second respectively with six-and-a-half lengths between them at the line.

The fancied runners who raced on the wide outside all disappointed to varying degrees.

The strongly backed favourite Olympy De Cerisy (8/11 from 11/4 early) was beaten in last a furlong from home but eventually finished third.

A faller on his sole previous start at Bartlemy, Eastbank Warrior (5/2 from 6s early) was fourth, while Borris winner Machismo trailed home in last.

A E24,000 July Store Sale purchase, the winner was third in a point-to-point at Curraghmore in April of last year when in the care of Peter Flood.

"Peter Flood had him and he loved him," Lavery said of the Jackie Russell owned victor.

"It was very straightforward. I walked the track beforehand and I thought down the inside was the best.

"I thought the outside was deep enough. The inside was old ground but it was a bit drier.

"He travelled away well and is still a bit green and looking around a bit."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee