Shanpallas scores on chase debut

Shanpallas got his chasing career off to the best possible start when taking the Killarney Oaks Hotel Beginners Chase under Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden.

Successful earlier this year in a Down Royal handicap hurdle over a similar two and a half miles trip, the Golan gelding kept on well on the run-in to deny 9/4 favourite Owega Star

The front-running Caolaneoin had just been headed by the ‘jolly’ when falling three out but that lead was short-lived as Madden had the 6/1 winner in front before the penultimate fence.

The Charles Byrnes-trained gelding was driven out by Madden to score by a length, with Cause Of Causes (7/2) a further six and a half lengths away in third.

Byrnes said, “He made just one mistake but was more or less foot perfect. He stays two and a half miles very well. Good ground is the key to him, and we’ll put him away over the winter.”