Madness edges to victory in feature

More Madness recorded his second win over fences this season in the featured Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase, although the outcome was only confirmed following a lengthy stewards’ enquiry.

Ryan Treacy’s mount struck the front early in the straight, and kept on in gutsy fashion despite drifting quite alarmingly after the last. Mister First looked a big danger when looming up early in the straight but didn’t find as much as expected when asked for his effort by Ben Dalton.

More Madness was driven along approaching the last and drifted badly left under pressure on the run-in carrying Mister First across the track in the process.

The pair were separated by half a length at the line, with Hidden Crack another three and a half lengths back in third.

Winning trainer Terence O’Brien said, “He’s as tough as nails and that was a nice prize to win. It was his Grand National! He was only beaten a few lengths by Buckers Bridge in a bumper and he’s been very consistent on his last few runs.”

Treacy was given a three day suspension for careless riding, and now faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines having picked up a 12 day ban last weekend.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes