Early birds pay homage to The Great Shanghai Early birds who availed of the 50/1 this morning on The Great Shanghai can ponder booking their trip to the Chinese city after the Philip Byrne-trained gelding outstayed Ted Dolly in the two mile maiden hurdle at Cork. Ted Dolly (6/4f) never came off the bridle until after the last, but when Barry Geraghty asked him to go and win the race he found absolutely nothing which enabled Mattie Bowes and The Great Shanghai to battle back on the rail and win by a head. “I always liked him at home. He’s a chaser in the making and it’s nice to pick up a hurdle on the way,” Birr, Co Offaly-based Philip Byrne said. “I fancied him to run well, but he surpassed all expectations. Mattie gave him a lovely ride. The owners (Buachailli Breathnach Syndicate) are from Portumna, Co Galway, so we might pick out a race at the festival.” Byrne had his first winner at Dundalk in March and this was his first success over jumps. This winner paid 28.50 euro on the Tote for a win. The front two pulled well clear as it was 11 lengths back to Allow Ned in third at 33/1. God’s County, the 2/1 second favourite having drifted from 4/5 in the morning, was pulled up before two out. Michael Graham (on course reporting by Alan Magee)
