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There could be Substance to this form

Substance  Substance
© Healy Racing Photos

An imposing son of Supremacy, Substance (9/4 favourite) came from a long way off the pace to take the second division of the three-year-old handicap at Roscommon in decisive fashion.

Racing off 68 on his first foray into handicap company, the Stonestreet Stables-owned colt had plenty to do as they turned for home but the leaders had gone a fair gallop and he made steady progress through the field to hit the front inside the final 150 yards.

At the line, Dylan Browne McMonagle 's mount had four lengths to spare over Fortuity

After the victory of Dancing Destiny this completed a double for Joseph O'Brien whose race planner Kevin Blake enthused - “That’ll get ride of the week! I thought he gave him an absolute peach because he has been disappointing.

“This time last year he was showing plenty but it just wasn’t happening at the races.

“The hope today was that they’d go really quick in front of him and he could ride him with confidence, and fill him with confidence, and they’d hopefully come back to him.

“He stayed in all the way and was very confident all the way. He picked up great and you’d have to say he was impressive.

“He has been disappointing, so hopefully that will be the making of him now. Maybe handicaps are going to suit him better than maidens, as they go quicker.

“Everyone involved has been patient.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson 

About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.