DANGAN CONOR BOUNCES BACK TO WIN SORLEY O’DORNAN DECIDER

Peter Farrell

The final of the Sorley O’Dornan A3/A4 525 featured at Clonmel Stadium on Sunday evening and the Adam Dunford-trained Dangan Conor bounced back to winning ways to land the €2,300 prize on the night.

Kindly sponsored by the family and friends of Sorley O’Dornan, this stake always proves hugely competitive and the decider was wide-open on paper with many of the finalists boasting strong claims of taking home gold. Swift Hot remained unbeaten coming into the final with five wins from as many starts and she was installed as the even money favourite to continue that flawless record. However, the jolly didn’t break as fluently as usual and she was immediately under pressure as a result. In contrast, Dangan Conor (9/4) had pinged out of trap five and Michael and Carmel Croke’s runner was already in a commanding position on the run-up. Bumping in behind put an end to many chances at this point, however, Dangan Conor entered the back straight with a two length lead over the improving Tetra Destiny in second. Still all to play for, the son of Confident Rankin and Ardera Love stopped the sectional clock at a brisk 16.26 and although kept honest thereafter, he proved a tough nut to crack in seeing off Tetra Destiny in second. Two lengths between the pair crossing the line, the time for Dangan Conor was 29.05 and that victory brought his stunning record to twelve wins from just sixteen starts.