Dance For Chester a winning recruit for Thorne Dance For Chester showed his real aptitude for testing ground when winning a final-furlong battle in the Dining Packages At Gowran Park Handicap over seven furlongs. On his last start for Mick Mulvany, he won on soft to heavy ground over five furlongs at Naas in March and made his first start for Stephen Thorne today. Mulvany's James The Second kept Dance For Chester more than honest at the business end, but the 11/10 favourite was stronger by three-quarters of a length in the closing stages from the 20/1 runner-up. Weegeebear (13/2) was four-and-a-quarter lengths adrift in third. Jockey Jack Kearney said: “I rode him work in Skryne and couldn’t believe he won over five (furlongs). “He was keen and hanging off the track but, once I got him onto the rail, he picked up and he kept finding. I’d definitely have no issue going further. “He definitely wants that ground and I wouldn’t be running him on any quicker than soft.” Additional reporting by Alan Magee
