Insignia Of Rank (Andrew Slattery) strides clear at odds of 33/1© Photo Healy Racing
Insignia Of Rank seemed to be forgotten as first reserve for TheTote.com Handicap but took full advantage of his opportunity to record a 33/1 shock.
His huge odds were difficult to understand, despite being 4lb out of the handicap, having been placed a number of times this season including on testing ground at Galway last month.
The Joe Murphy-trained gelding travelled well to lead off the home bend and soon but the race to bed by quickening clear.
Andrew Slattery ’s mount was in total command inside the final furlong winning by three and a quarter lengths. Merited came home well to snatch the runner-up spot from Aussie Valentine with Band Of Outlaws completing the places in fourth.
Murphy said, "Eddie Lynam let us know the horse (Onlyhuman) wasn't running and we hadn't envisaged we'd run him but we took our chance and the three year old allowance meant a lot, along with the 7lbs claim.
"He is a nice horse going forward but we were disappointed with him a little early but my horses were sick so they're all coming back well.
"We'll go back to the drawing board now and he looked like he could stay 1m2f or 1m4f, and we might just throw an entry in the November Handicap, which Swamp Fox won last year. There's also the possibility he could go hurdling as well."
Regarding his back to form yard, he said "I wouldn't wish yard sickness on any man; any man whose yard is sick, you're sick yourself.
"There's the mental strain of it but the owners were very good and very loyal. We waited and that's what friends and owners are about.
"They were coughing and we closed the yard down. We rang all the owners and told them and that is the deciding factor in the horses running well now. We were four months getting through it."
(TW & AM)
