Boots on the Mark Again

Niall Madden was on the mark with Salesin at Wexford last night, that one ridden by Padraig Roche, but it was his son Niall 'Slippers' that was aboard Khazar the easy victor of the Kevin Cooke (C & G) Maiden Hurdle at Kilbeggan.

In front two out, the son of Anabaa (the sire of Slippers' easy Galway winner, Gay Sloane) went away to beat 9/4 joint favourite, Beneath The Radar (as high as 6s this morning) by nine lengths. Fellow market-leader, The Boxer Coffey finished way back in fourth whilst Track Mac ran poorly, beating just one home.

"He ran in Sligo and didn't handle the ground but seeing as it was the first race here we probably had the best of the ground. He jumped well and I was delighted with his performance but there are no immediate plans for where he will go next," explained Madden senior on the former Thierry Doumen trained five-year-old. (EM)