Pin on National trail

The Ladbrokes-sponsored Irish Grand National could be next on the agenda for Hold The Pin who followed up a win at Down Royal last month with victory in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase.

That Down Royal success was a first for Donadea trainer Ian Browne, who only recently took charge of the former Tony Martin-trained gelding.

There was drama at the final fence where Hold The Pin (12/1) had just taken over the lead from Ballyvoile when the latter swerved left and crashed through the wing. Thankfully rider Tim Carroll was able to walk away from the incident.

Hold The Pin kept on well on the run-in for Bryan Cooper to beat the rallying Guts For Garters (7/1) by two and a half lengths, with Artiste Bay (14/1) another seven lengths back in third.

Martin Burke was given a two day ban for using his whip with excessive frequency and unnecessarily when out of contention on eighth placed Saddler's Native

Ian Browne said: “We ran here to try and get some extra weight to get him into the Irish National. I've had a licence for about three years but only had a few runners, and this lad was my first winner at Down Royal.”