Hurdler in making Shar up in trip and off mark

Well-backed to land a Newmarket maiden (six furlongs) on his debut under Jamie Spencer back last June, it all came together on outing number seven for Sharjah in the [email protected] Handicap.

Now operating over an extended ten furlongs, the son of Shamardal was waited with to get the trip by Declan McDonogh.

He produced the former Noel Quinlan-inmate down the outer in the straight and he stayed on well inside the last to hold off the gambled-on Desiderata (8s into 4s) by three parts of a length.

Winning trainer Andy Slattery's brother Brian said: "He's already schooled well over hurdles and we were hopeful today. Declan said that he saw out the trip well.

"We'll keep him going here when there's a race suitable for him. He'll make a better hurdler though."

Of course the Slattery yard have a local point-to-point coming up at Horse And Jockey on Sunday where they sponsor the confined maiden. No doubt they'll be hoping to get on the score-sheet there too.

Emmet McNamara had a nasty experience when dislodged from the unruly Marvelous James when the stalls opened. Thankfully Ger Lyons' employee was able to walk away from the incident. (MG & EM)