'Shark' scoops tasty Oyster prize

'Shark' Hanlon, who landed his first stakes winner on the Flat when Enfanchise scored at Gowran last week, was again on the scoresheet when A Mere Bagatelle won the Oyster Tavern Handicap Chase at odds of 7/1.

Always prominent,  the Alan Cullen-owned gelding took over in front five out. Nicely clear turning for home with three to jump, he kept up the gallop to account for Listenheretomejack by five lengths. 

"We dropped him in at Naas the last day and it seemed to sweeten him up," said winning rider Shane Fenelon.

"He handles summer soft so I wasn't worried when I saw the rain coming. 

"He won nicely, jumped well apart from a few minor mistakes and I tried to keep it simple. Once I got to the front I wasn't going to take him back on a sharp track like this."

Quotes from Thomas Weekes