WILLIE MULLINS'S versatile gelding Padashpan landed the Roscommon Chase last night and in the process recorded his second success at the venue this year.

Sent immediately to the front by Charlie Swan, odds-on backers were made sweat briefly when market rival Rossbeigh Creek and Francis Flood led for several strides after the second last, but the eight-times champion conjured up a renewed effort on the run-in to score by a length and a half.

"He has a staying pedigree and the Galway Plate is in the plans. He would only take his chance in the GPT Amateur Handicap if the ground came up soft as he disappointed us at Sligo on the flat on his last run on fast ground," said Mullins.

Two Bandits deservedly opened his account under rules, following three promising placed efforts earlier this season, when making virtually all to initiate a double for Pat Shanahan, who celebrated his 34th birthday last week.

Winning trainer Con Collins said: "He has run very consistently this season and the bit of cut in the ground helped him today. I will step him up to a mile or a mile and one in the future."

The Curragh handler and Pat Shanahan completed a double in the Percy French Maiden with Lifesforliving, who edged past the well backed front-running, Keeping The Faith and Eddie Ahern after the two furlong pole, to win readily by two and a half lengths.

Clonee trainer Eddie Lynam saddled his second winner this term when My River made all under Seamus Heffernan to heat Slightly Smooth in the St Coman's Handicap.

Lynam, who has a string of 20 horses this season, said, "My horses have been slow to come to hand this season. We had him gelded before Christmas and I thought he was going to get caught close home