Shelly in another Gowran surprise Following the success of 50/1 shot Tango Banbou earlier, bookmakers got another cracker of a result when 20/1 chance Shellys Creek ran out a convincing winner of the Paulstown Handicap Chase at Gowran under Shane Jackson. A couple of second place finishes in mares maiden point-to-point company was as good as it had got in fourteen previous outings for Shellys Creek. However in the testing ground here, the Flemensfirth mare, still only a six-year-old, got to the front five out and she kept on well from before the second last to beat Mister Farmer by ten lengths. Francis Flood trains Shellys Creek for Matthew Farrell. Flood also had Lascalahall in here and that fellow fell early. Francis Flood junior said: "That's a good surprise. She ran in Limerick the other day (six days back) and she missed the break. Shane made sure to get her out quick today. "Shane started out with us when he was still in school but that's his first winner for us. "This mare had some okay runs. She's been a bit up and down but she ran well in a mares hurdle at Fairyhouse one day. "We brought her point-to-pointing as she looked to be slow and crying out for fences. I think she came up against some good animals there. "They went a punishing gallop out in front and I think that cost them here. "She's from the family of Seabass and that's a valuable win for her – she'll eventually make a nice broodmare. "I wish I'd had something on her today!" Spot The Boss was reported to have pecked on landing at the first, he never travelled and ran flat but he was post race normal. (DM & EM)
