Robbie Colgan© Photo Healy Racing
Mrs Mac Veale looked a winner from two out in the Fairyhouse.ie Handicap Hurdle but she opened the door for Lapse Of Reason when not fluent at the last. Andy Lynch's charge, in the hands of Robbie Colgan, didn't need a second invite and he went on to triumph by a length and three parts.
Ballinrobe winner Vicalus (post race normal, rider reported that his mount ran very keen to the start and never travelled throughout the race) went off the well-supported favourite for this two and a half miler but she wasn't going to win from some way out. It was the layers that were greeting Lapse Of Reason's success as the previous course and distance scorer when off a pretty much unconsidered 16/1 chance.
Lynch commented of the Chris Jones-owned winner: "He breaks my heart. We ran him at Galway and we thought he'd run well but he sort of stood still at the start.
"I went down to the start today myself and I had him geed-up and he jumped off with them.
"He likes it here – he's won and been second here in the past."
The Stewards requested a report from Andrew Lynch, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Lapse Of Reason, placed first as compared with it's recent form.
The trainer reported that his charge missed the break the last day at Galway, 10th September and could not get competitive and may have resented the application of a tongue strap. Today the animal ran without a tongue strap and had cheek pieces applied instead. In his opinion this change of equipment may have contributed to the improved run.
Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the content of the report.
(GC & EM)
