THERE was a fairytale outcome to the €600,000 Friends Of The Curragh Irish Cesarewitch with weighing room veteran Niall McCullagh partnering Puturhandstogether to land a gamble in the ultra-competitive stamina test.

McCullagh didn’t even have a ride on the eight-race card after declarations before his agent Ciaran O’Toole secured the mount on the second reserve, who was supported from 20/1 in the morning into 7/1 joint favourite. The dual-purpose gelding made headway in the straight to lead a furlong out and soon asserted to go about three lengths clear. However, the drama didn’t end there, as he appeared to idle in front and ultimately held on by half a length from 66/1 outsider Chally Chute, who was denied a clear run over a furlong from home. Queenstown and Lord Erskine took third and fourth, while McCullagh’s son Scott finished fifth aboard Dawn Rising.