Leader back to winning ways - three years later

Without a win since February 2010, Western Leader made a successful chasing debut in the Ratoath Community Beginners Chase in Fairyhouse yesterday, to the delight of trainer John Shark Hanlon and owner Barry Connell.

“It’s been a long three years,” declared Hanlon in the winner’s enclosure as he reflected on the serious tendon injury sustained by Western leader at Aintree in 2010.

“If the vets had their way, they would have put him down. But Barry insisted that they save him, even if we only had him as a pet. So it’s great to have him back.