Native win

The outsider of Jessica Harrington's two representatives may have won the £13,000 first prize for the National Lottery Agent …

The outsider of Jessica Harrington's two representatives may have won the £13,000 first prize for the National Lottery Agent Champion Chase but the trainer was as thrilled with the performance of her runner up Ferbet Junior as she was with the winner Slaney Native.

"Delighted with him," was her verdict on Ferbet Junior who ran home 10 lengths behind his stable companion after almost a yearlong absence from racing.

But Slaney Native was an undeniably impressive victor and looked to have the race won anyway when the favourite Moscow Express, who was travelling alongside Paul Moloney's mount at the time, crashed at the second last.

"Slaney Native may get further than two and a half miles this season," was Harrington's judgement on the winner.

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Tate Tirol ran out an extremely impressive winner of the three-year-old hurdle under his trainer Charlie Swan, leaving the 5 to 4 favourite Neutron an easy 14 lengths in his wake.

It might not have been Epsom or Longchamp but the John Oxx - John Murtagh team have been saddling winners all over the place this year and the momentum continued with Narrative in the seven-furlong maiden.

"At least he goes to the sales a winner!" was the verdict of Dermot Weld's son Mark after Murrayfield got off the mark in the Challenge Handicap.

Murrayfield took his time overhauling In The Gods but will go to the Newmarket sales having provided the champion jockey elect Pat Smullen with his 74th winner of the season.

Siamsa ran out a comfortable winner of the nine-furlong handicap for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning but not as comfortably as Lively Buck who sauntered home in the maiden hurdle.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column