Double joy for JP McManus in Ballinrobe

Shanpallas and King Leon provided owner J P McManus with a double in the €30,000 twin-features in Ballinrobe last night.

The Charles Byrnes-trained Shanpallas, better known as a chaser, justified 11/8 favouritism in the McHale Coranna Handicap Hurdle while King Leon, representing Aidan and Joseph O’Brien, got the better of stable-companion Carriganog in the McHale Mayo National.

Ridden by Barry Geraghty, Shanpallas overcame a mistake at the second last before battling to beat top-weight Cliff House by a half-length in the Coranna, prompting his trainer to declare: “It’s a lovely pot to win,” before adding, “He ran well over hurdles in Punchestown and brought that here. He’s a summer horse and will be going back over fences.