9 hours ago
Mica Malpic gives Bolger second Connacht National triumph
For the second time in three years, Enda Bolger won the Tote Connacht National for owner JP McManus as Mica Malpic, ridden by Charlie O'Dwyer, mastered Ambitious Fellow on the run-in to land Roscommon's annual National Hunt highlight.
The eight-year-old stayed on dourly from the final fence to score by a length and a quarter, the pair stretching eight lengths clear of the third, Fairyhill Run.
'It's a nice race to win and the rain definitely helped him,' said Bolger. 'We won it with Stealthy Tom two years ago and it's great to win it again.
'Charlie gave him a great ride and said his jumping was fantastic, bar the second last.'
Gordon Elliott and Kevin Sexton shared a 10-1 double, sparked when Pied Piper, placed in Cheltenham's County Hurdle twice, retained his unbeaten record over fences in the Dermot Hughes Car Sales Novice Chase.
The seven-year, now three-from-three over fences, by an aggregate of 70 lengths, put favourite Zenta to the sword on the final circuit and, ultimately, powered clear to triumph by 27 lengths, with Midnight Moonshine coming past a weary Zenta (8-11 favourite) in the straight.
'That was as straight-forward as you can get it, ' declared Sexton. 'He was a bit exuberant the first day in Down Royal but, now, he's brilliant — long, short, whatever you want.
'He galloped the other horse into the ground with his jumping and won really well. It's been a tough few days — I've had five seconds, so this winner is important.'
Sexton delivered again in the George And Joan McCourt Memorial Beginners Chase, brining 4-1 joint-favourite Boston Rover to master long-time leader Iamagetaway at the second last for a snug five lengths success.
Trainer Pat Doyle stated: 'The last time we were here, we won the Connacht National with Kaiser Black (in 2018),' after watching 6-5 favourite Brave Fortune, ridden by his son Jack, brush aside Uncle Pat in the Beginners Chase, adding: 'This is a nice horse, a real natural over a fence and, hopefully, there's a good day in him.'
Runner-up to the classy Westport Cove in Ballinrobe last time, the Paul Gilligan-trained Itsalladream proved a fortunate winner of the Castlerea Beginners Chase, coming home 16 lengths clear of Encanto Bruno.
In a race which saw favourite Birdie Or Bust and A Law Of her Own exit at the second, the Willie Mullins-trained Runcok (Sean Cleary Farrell) blazed the trail and was still a long way clear when crashing at the third last, leaving Itsalladream to win unchallenged.
'We were lucky winners, but Willie has won enough and this horse was second to one of his in Ballinrobe,' quipped winning trainer Gilligan. 'All the credit goes to my son Liam who does all the work with this horse at home. I suppose we'll head to Galway now, for a novice.'
