150-1 outsider springs lovely surprise for trainer enjoying first winner of 2020

Rayounpour continued his impressive ascent up the ranks with another authoritative premier handicap success when plundering the €40,000 Mongey Communications-sponsored contest at the Curragh.

Mick Halford’s lightly raced Cape Cross four-year-old arrived on the back of a first victory in the Cork Derby over a mile and four furlongs earlier in the month. Off an 8lb higher mark, again with the assistance of 7lb claimer Adam Farragher, he was even more emphatic this time over two furlongs shorter.

Farragher chased the early leader Lethal Power before allowing his strong-travelling mount to push on fully two furlongs out. From there, the outcome never looked in doubt, as Rayounpour strode home three lengths clear at odds of 5-1.