Progressive View lands Grade B prize

Glencairn View recorded his biggest success to date, as he ran out a good winner of the Grade B Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Chase Final.

The eight-year-old son of Flemensfirth has been progressing nicely in recent months, winning at Punchestown in January, before finishing third to Pairofbrowneyes in the Leinster National at Gowran earlier this month.

Available at 8/1 last night, the Tony Mullins trained chestnut, came in for plenty of market support, eventually going off a 9/2 chance in the colours of owner Mrs Robert McCarthy.

Settled in second by David Mullins (nephew of the winning trainer), he improved into a share of the lead from three out and led before the next, keeping on well from there to score by five and a half lengths.

The 7/2 favourite Fitzhenry had to settle for second under Barry Geraghty for Paul Nolan, while Augustin (4/1) was another six lengths back in third with Paul Townend aboard for Willie Mullins.

Tony Mullins said afterwards: "I've had this race in mind for a good while and it's rare when it all works out. He's a fair horse. He's in the (Irish) National but he won't get in and it's too soon now anyway.

"I can't see us going to Punchestown on good ground. The race that was formerly the Whitbread could be a possible with some cut in the ground.

"He missed a year and that wasn't for the craic! The long term is the dream that we might have an Aintree National horse. He has a long way to go to get to that but that's what we are aiming at in time.

"You will really see the best of him over three and a half or hopefully four and a half if that dream comes alive. He'd stay doing that speed for another two circuits. I think he's an improving horse."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee