Sea defies top-weight under Lee

Secret Sea defied top-weight to win the Visit Tipperary Handicap under Billy Lee.

Successful on the level at Ballinrobe last summer, the Eoin Doyle trained five-year-old made the breakthrough on her eighth start over flights at Limerick in November.

She failed to make an impact on her return to action at Navan last month, but was a closer sixth on her most recent try at Roscommon.

Available at 25s in early shows, the Sea The Stars bay came in for some market support and eventually went off at just 11/1 in the colours of the Suir Syndicate.

Settled in mid-division, she took closer order on outer approaching the straight and was ridden to the front over a furlong from home, keeping on well in the closing stages to prevail by half-a-length.

The easy-to-back Nusra (7s early, returned 25/1) ran a fine race to finish second under Killian Leonard for Edward O'Grady, while Pretty Little Liar (11/1) and Matilda With Me (13/2) were third and fourth respectively.

Evenwood Sunofagun, who was sent off the 2/1 favourite, faded in the straight and eventually finished sixth.

"She had a nice run the last day in Roscommon. She missed the break but came home well," Doyle said.

"It's great for the boys and she is a grand dual purpose filly. She doesn’t be on a going day every day but today was one of her going days. She's a big mare and wouldn't want it any quicker either.

"She's in over hurdles at Tramore this weekend. It was plenty hard enough for her tonight so we'll see how she is tomorrow and plan from there."

STEWARDS REPORT

W.J. Lee, rider of Secret Sea trained by Eoin Doyle, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount rolled a bit left inside the final furlong.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee