Beacon Lane shines

Ballingarry, Co Limerick trainer Charles Byrnes saddled the first two home in the featured Aer Rianta Shannon Handicap Chase …

Ballingarry, Co Limerick trainer Charles Byrnes saddled the first two home in the featured Aer Rianta Shannon Handicap Chase at Tipperary yesterday when Beacon Lane carried his colours to a narrow victory over stable-companion Super Franky.

In a thrilling finish, Conor O'Dwyer, aboard the well-backed Beacon Lane, looked beaten when Nicholls Cross arrived to lead briefly approaching the penultimate fence. A mistake there, however, cost the favourite dearly.

Then Little-K swept to the head of affairs on the run-in but he bumped into Beacon Lane losing his action. Suddenly, Beacon Lane was back in front and he held on for a short-head victory. Favourite backers started the session in winning style when Aidan O'Brien's $2 million purchase Dietrich won by 1/2l. Sent off at prohibitive odds of 2 to 9, the daughter of Storm Cat scored with a little up her sleeve for Paul Scallan from Eddie Lynam's newcomer Patinham.

Sheika Hassa, eldest daughter of Sheikh Mohammad, was not present to see her colours carried to victory aboard Fantasia Girl, her first horse under the care of John Oxx, who scored with the minimum of fuss under Niall McCullagh.