Pineau storms to emphatic Ulster National success
A ten-year-old novice, trained by Philip Fenton, the 13/2 shot got the better of the flattering Shabra Charity before the final fence before forging clear to triumph by twenty-three lengths.
A delighted Fenton explained: “I was worried that three and a half miles might be too far for him, although I knew the good ground would help him.
“He needs time between his races so we’ll probably bypass Cheltenham and look at something during the summer, maybe the Midlands National (in Kilbeggan) or the Galway Plate. He’s going the right way and I suppose he’ll have to improve another bit to run in the likes of the Plate.
On her first ride back after suspension, Nina Carberry, deputising for her bother Paul, was unseated from Another Palm at the second fence and was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast for x-ray, with a suspected broken collarbone.
At a time when he should have been preparing for Aintree, Davy Russell was seen at his best on board the Gordon Elliott-trained favourite Shrapnel, which slammed market rival; Rattan in the Toals Bookmakers Dial-A-Bet Hurdle.
Always close to the pace and hanging slightly, Shrapnel was driven out by Russell on the run-in to score by six lengths providing Elliott with his seventh success in just four days.
Meanwhile, in Dundalk last night, Curragh trainer Ken Condon, who registered a fine double in Cork last Saturday, landed the featured www.dundlakstadium.com Handicap with the Niall McCullagh-ridden Straits Of Zanzibar, which pipped Jamesie by a head in a blanket-finish.
Declan McDonogh, gave the Eoin Griffin-trained Fairview Star an enterprising ride to turn over Ballydoyle hot-pot Marchese Marconi (1/5 favourite) in the Dundalk Stadium On Facebook Maiden.
Infanta Branca was another beaten favourite for Aidan O’Brien, dropping away tamely to finish last of six in the Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Race, behind David Wachman’s Precious Stone, which made all under Wayne Lordan to beat Typhoon Lily.
The winner will campaign in fillies stakes races.
