Black Sam The Man in Pig 'N' Whistle

A point-to-point winner and starting off in handicap chase company Black Sam The Man certainly didn't go un-backed at 15/2 for race four at Kilbeggan. Backers of the John 'Shark' Hanlon and Danny Mullins-ridden Black Sam Bellamy gelding were rewarded when he took the honours in the Pig 'N' Whistle Pubs & Restaurants New York Handicap Chase.

Victorious in his point-to-point at the picturesque County Kilkenny venue of Grennan, when with Sean Doyle in Wexford, in November 2014, the now six-year-old was picked up by Hanlon at around the same time for 15,000 pounds.

Indeed the other couple of times that Black Sam The Man has passed through the ring it was for sums less than that — a buy-back at 800 guineas as a foal and for 5,500 Euros as a two-year-old.

Here supported from 10/1 into 15/2 on track, the winner led on the home turn before the last and he went on to beat Shake It Up by three and a half lengths.

"That's lovely. He's been knocking on the door," remarked Hanlon,

"It's great for the Kelly family as he was bought for their father (Patrick) who passed away a couple of months ago.

"I'm delighted to get a win out of the horse as he had horses with me for the last couple of years and was an out-and-out gentleman.

"Danny said he wants that trip and he has to have good ground. The last day in Tipperary they over-watered.

"He's no star but if we get a 3m2f somewhere he'll have a chance again."

(GC & EM)