Mount Colah spreadeagles the field

Down Royal’s bumper was turned into a procession by 9/4 favourite Mount Colah from Jerry Cosgrave’s yard in Ballela, Co Down.

The five-year-old had won his point-to-point before being placed in two bumpers then two maiden hurdles. Jerry Cosgrave was delighted to see his charge run out the winner today though. He said: “He’s a real horse. He has met a few good ones but he has guts to burn.

“He doesn’t settle as well as you would like. I was pleased with the ride. Mount Colah gets two miles well. He’ll have a wee break and then go back hurdling.

"His owner Thomas Walsh is from Bryansford, Co Down and this is his first ever horse in training."

Noel McParlan rode the winner and secured a first and last race double on the day after his earlier victory on Carsonstown Boy

Mount Colah was always prominent and showed an impressive turn of foot over a furlong out to sprint away and win by eight lengths from unraced pair Los Amigos (20/1) and Shady Island (10/1) who was four-and-a-half lengths back in third.

Cosgrave has a dozen horses in training. Most of them are pointers with some progressing to the race-track.

John Barry who rode Carsonstown Bridge into fifth place picked up a two-day suspension for using his whip with excessive frequency.

Punters went home happy after this fourth winning favourite in-a-row.

Michael Graham