News Item hits the headlines

NORTHERN trainer George Steward captured his first Powers Whiskey Ulster National when joint-favourite News Item landed the spoils under in-form Davy Russell at Downpatrick yesterday.

A former point-to-pointer, News Item was hampered by a loose horse when challenging at the fourth last fence before easing past front-running Slow To Part on the approach to the second last. And, clear on the run-in, he stayed on to beat Derawar by three lengths.

Stewart, who trains near Lisburn, had previously saddled the runner-up in the traditional Downpatrick feature twice, and feared that drying ground might hamper News Item’s chance.