Thiswaycadeaux a gift for punters

Thiswaycadeaux landed a punt from 9/1 to 11/2 in the Tulsk Handicap over an extended seven furlongs at Roscommon.

Billy Lee switched his mount out and the pair made good headway to tank into contention a quarter of a mile out.

Thiswaycadeaux was pushed along to lead a furlong and a half down and had the race sewn up in the final furlong as she drew a couple of lengths clear of Mayaadeen (11/2). Stormy Belle the 4/1 favourite who came in third, could have her performance marked up as she raced in rear and ran short of room turning in before stumbling badly.

Trainer Willie McCreery said: "I never gave Billy any instructions - I never have to, and he is after riding her a few times but they went too fast in front.

"She is a grand filly, is big and strong and the ease in the ground helped her too.

"She is progressing but they get a bit cute when apprentices ride them a few days and Billy settled her back today; she ran a bit free at the Curragh the last time."

McCreery, who played on the losing Kildare team in the 1998 All-Ireland football final won by Galway, later remarked that yesterday's four-in-a-row Dublin team was akin to "a group horse running in a handicap!"

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes