Connell gains first win for five years

Wild China provided Co Laois trainer Michael Connell with his first winner in over five years when causing a 14/1 upset under Danny Mullins, in the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap (div 1) at Dundalk this evening.

Afterwards Connell explained “Wild China ran well here a few times but he had to go down to that grade to win. To be honest if he didn't win tonight he was never going to win.

“I have six in training and they're all good ground horses so we'll have to make our way up here again!”

The winner was bred by Jim Bolger and, interestingly, Connell's previous winner was another Bolger bred horse, Solar Sail at Tralee in August 2007.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee