Connell's patience with Shark rewarded Gran Cavallo threatened to give the locals something to cheer about when launching his bid in the straight in the Cheltenham Crazy Prices At Coral Maiden Hurdle. It wasn't to be for him but we still had a Cork man ride the winner as Adrian Heskin got 4/7 shot Stowaway Shark home in front. The front two left third placer Crown Hill no less than ninety lengths behind in third, as two and three parts of a length separated the front two at the finish. Gran Cavallo posed danger to the front-running Stowaway Shark at the third last, but from the next it was apparent that the Barry Connell-owned and John 'Shark' Hanlon-trained winner was getting the best of the argument. "He's a fine big horse - 17 hands, and I'm looking forward to going chasing next season," stated Hanlon. "He might be left off now with a view to having him back for the Listowel Festival in September. Fair play to Barry (Connell) for being patient with him as he had an injury in his bumper." For his part Heskin said: "We have to ride him like that as he wants further and also wants a fence. "He's not a summer horse but does that job well and there's plenty of fun to be had with him. He'll make a nice novice chaser on winter ground next season." Mr W.T. Cronin, rider of Negative Equity trained by William Cronin, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount burst a blood vessel and pulled up. J. Mulvihill, rider of Crazy Game trained by Eugene M. O'Sullivan, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount gurgled, didn't jump well and hung before pulling up. (TW & EM)
