Whinstone Boy takes Thyestes

Whinstone Boy stayed on best in the testing conditions to land the Tendrleen Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park under Sean Flanagan.

The well-backed 5-1 chance was ridden prominently throughout the three-mile contest and was disputing the lead with Siegemaster turning for home.

A couple of mistakes meant the latter dropped away but Jimmy Mangan’s Whinstone Boy galloped all the way to the line in the testing conditions to beat Hangover, who finished with a rattle, by a length and three-quarters.

William Hill introduced the winner at 40-1 for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

Mangan knows what it takes to win the Aintree spectacular having saddled Monty's Pass to success in 2003, but Whinstone Boy is unlikely to follow in his hoofprints.

“It’s great to win this race as my father won it 29 years ago with Junes Friend, which I led up! It’s a race I’ve always wanted to win,” said Mangan.

“He beat Powerstation at Thurles and he went on to win well at Leopardstown so you had to fancy him on that. Soft ground is the big key to him.

“The three lads that own him are from Belfast and were involved with Monty’s Pass.

“I would have been disappointed if he didn’t get in here and I had the Galmoy Hurdle as a saver.

“The lads love Liverpool and he’ll go for the Topham Chase. He’ll get an entry for the Grand National but probably won’t get in.

“He’s had a slight few problems and was a bit weak in his tendons.

“I told Sean to make plenty of use with him with the light weight. This is my biggest day since Aintree.”