Martin bags another Ulster Cesarewitch with Green Mile

HANDICAP king Tony Martin won the Heart Of Down Ulster Cesarewitch for the fourth time in nine years when Green Mile justified favouritism in the Downpatrick marathon yesterday.

Green Mile, a dual winner on the flat in Germany before joining Martin’s string, was having his first run on the level since flopping at Listowel last September. And he needed all of Robbie Colgan’s strength to wear down market-rival Princess Nicole, runner-up in the race for the second successive year, in the last hundred yards to triumph by a neck.

Martin, successful with Clever Consul in 2000 and 2001, saddled Hegrid to bolt up in the race under Fran Berry last year, slamming Princess Nicole by seven lengths. This time, he relied on Robbie Colgan, successful on the Montjeu gelding at Killarney in July, to do the steering.