Shanroe Al C delights Thornton in Gowran

Shanroe Al C made the most of his light weight to win the three mile one handicap chase in Gowran Park.

With Simon Torrens’ 5lb cliam factored in, the 11/4 favourite carried 9st 8lb for this staying trip. The Caddy Rose gave it a right go from the front but was passed by Shanroe Al C at the third last.

The leader soon came under the whip as The Caddy Rose switched out to try and challenge him at the next.

Shanroe AL C led over the last and was driven out to hold The Caddy Rose (8/1) by a length. The runner-up kept trying all the way to the line. There was an eight-length gap back to Macgiloney in third.

Trainer Karl Thornton said: “He's a horse that I've always thought the world of.

“I actually brought him to the sales and no-one wanted to buy him. A cousin of mine won a point-to-point with him and to be honest I didn't pull him out too many times!

“He's a grand horse and chasing is his game. He doesn't do an awful lot when he hits the front.

“He's a real professional and jumped super. He probably got there too soon but said he had to. He gave him a squeeze, he came alive and got there too soon.

“He's a horse that they will have a lot of fun with. He wasn't right last year. When he won in Tipperary he actually got a screw up into his foot and was on a heap of antibiotics and just wasn't right.

“He actually ran well at Navan on bottomless but I'd say he won't go on extreme ground.

“We'll see how he is when we get him home and go from there.”

The Stewards interviewed S.A. Mulcahy, rider of Macgiloney, concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that S.A. Mulcahy was in breach of R10(3)(g) by using his whip with excessive frequency. Having taken his previous record into consideration, the Stewards suspended S.A. Mulcahy for six race days.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson