Shark off the mark over the larger ones

Unfortunate last time at Leopardstown when clippings heels and hitting the deck at the last behind On The Fringe, Viking Splash made no mistake this time in the Point-to-Point Weekly In The Irish Post Tetratema Perpetual Cup Hunters Chase under Brian Hayes at Gowran.

The well-backed favourite Viking Splash made all under Hayes and Barry Connell's gelding galloped on strongly up the straight to beat Salsify and Annacarton by ten lengths and a length and a half.

Winning trainer John 'Shark' Hanlon said of his Stowaway (sire of Western Leader, Hidden Cyclone, Away We Go, Mart Lane, Dazzling Susie etc.) gelding: "That's my first winner over fences in Ireland. Truckers Delight won a chase in Startford alright.

"The plan all year with Viking Splash was to go for the Foxhunters in Cheltenham but he came down in Leopardstown the last day and he isn't qualified now. He'll probably go to Fairyhouse.

"I see him as an Irish National type in the making."