Screaming Colours proved much too good as Conor Orr guided the 11-year-old home with ease; Young Dev was back in second for Denis Hogan with favourite Time To Get Up in third; earlier on the card, Saint Palais got back to winning ways for trainer Richard Bandey
Saturday 19 March 2022 17:32, UK
It was another big-race Irish success on British soil as Screaming Colours and Conor Orr landed the £150,000 Midlands Grand National for trainer William Durkan on Saturday.
The duo came cruising into contention in the final half-mile for the Sandyford trainer, picking up the lead with three fences to take from El Paso Wood and Philip Armson.
From there, the only obstacles for Orr and Screaming Colours (12/1) were in front of them as they picked up at the final two fences and pulled clear to take the Uttoxeter feature by ten lengths.
Ireland also had the second with the Denis Hogan-trained Young Dev filling the runner-up spot for young rider Michael McDonagh, who guided Banbridge to Cheltenham Festival success on Friday in the Martin Pipe Conditional Handicap Hurdle.
Favourite Time To Get Up could never really get into contention and stayed on to finish third for Jonjo O'Neill Sr and Jr, with long-time leader El Paso Wood, an 80/1 outsider, back in fourth.
Speaking after the race, winning jockey Orr said: "I had to take a pull early in the straight just to try and have something bring me there but I knew I had plenty of horse under me and he's won impressively in the end.
"We came here hopeful, especially when there was that little bit of ease in the ground. We wanted the rain as he went well here last time but it dried out a little bit. We were very confident coming here this time with the rain.
"It'll be brilliant for William, they're not a big team, it's mainly family. It's brilliant for me to get the chances for them and to repay them."
Durkan's son, Neil, said: "It's superb, we were here last year and we were a little bit unlucky with the way the ground dried out. When the rain came on Wednesday we were delighted to see that, a lot of people complained about it but it was perfect for us.
"He's an 11-year-old in a nine-year-old's legs and skin, he's so lightly raced. He's just one of these horses that gives you everything, he was just galloping all the way to the line. He never gave up once.
"We had a little injury, a setback with him and he's not run since Cork in October, but to be fair he's given 100 per cent."
The Durkan name is a famous one in racing around the world with William's late son, John, famously bought Istabraq to go jumping for JP McManus, before tragically dying from leukaemia.
Asked what he would have made of the victory, Neil Durkan added: "He'd have a wry smile on his face and probably be disappointed he wasn't here to ride him himself.
"It's a bittersweet day because when he crossed the line John's not here to enjoy it."
Earlier on the card, Saint Palais stepped back in grade and up in form with a dominant success in the Trinity Create Novices' Handicap Chase for Harry Bannister and trainer Richard Bandey.
Always handy throughout, the five-year-old novice chaser made a jumping error at four out to leave him in behind the leaders but Bannister galvanised his mount who went clear between the final two fences.
He again was not fluent at the last but had enough in the tank to pull away again at the finish, with over three lengths back to Gustavian in second and Midnight River in third.
Beauport and Jordan Nailor ended a frustrating run of seconds as they took the Optimum Pay Handicap Hurdle for the Nigel Twiston-Davies team.
The six-year-old led down the home straight but was never travelling as well as the highly-touted Boothill for Harry Fry, who was always going well under Sean Bowen.
But as he loomed up menacingly at the final flight, Boothill blundered and lost a length as well as momentum, which was enough for Beauport to hold off the late charge for a narrow success.
