Shortall has whip hand

Galway Plate hero Shane Shortall continued in top form when registering a double on Cassells Rock and Point Of Rescue in Bellewstown last night but also incurred a two-day whip ban.

Shortall, who partnered Road To Riches to big-race success in Galway, got 5/2 favourite Cassells Rock up on the line to land PBA At Bellewstown Mullacurry Handicap Hurdle by a short head from frontrunner Curragh Golan.

The 5lb. claimer was banned for not giving his mount time to respond to his whip-use. And the winning trainer explained: “He’s had a few problems since we got him from France. But that’s his ground — he didn’t handle winter ground. And we’ll see where we’ll go with him.”