Meade wins his first Kerry National with Snow Falcon

Galway Plate fourth placer Snow Falcon clung on grimly to land the Grade A Guinness Kerry National Handicap Chase and then survived a steward's enquiry in the Listowel highlight.

Trained by Noel Meade and ridden by Johnny Moore, the 6/1 shot took over going well from well-backed favourite Rogue Angel from three out.

However it got scary for him in the closing stages and edging to his right he did Saturnas no favours, eventually clinging on by a neck.

Moore had his whip in the correct right hand and really though connections and backers of Saturnas can feel a little unlucky, it was surely the correct call to leave the result stand.

The aforementioned Rogue Angel ultimately took third, four lengths off the front pair, whilst English raiders Dell' Arca and Shantou Village did well in fourth and fifth.

Their fellow cross-channel hope Bishops Road was unfortunately taken out when All Hell Let Loose came down four out. Both were still in the hunt.

Moore paid tribute to Meade employee Emma Connolly in the aftermath, for her work with Snow Falcon, and his fellow Wexford man Sean Flanagan was also in his thoughts.

Flanagan would have been aboard Snow Falcon were he not side-lined with a leg fracture.

Meade said: "Everything went great for him through the race, and I'd say he was idling in front more than anything else.

"We planned to jump off on the inside and let him drift back as we knew there would be plenty of pace. He rode exactly as we planned except he went on a bit earlier than I expected but he said he didn't want to stay with Roque Angel and help him along. He wanted to pass him and put it to bed.

"He trained very well since Galway, and I felt the ground helped him as he was a bit at sea on the faster ground at Galway. He's not an extravagant jumper over fences but he's usually reasonable.

"He jumped great for Johnny and horses do jump well for him as he has a beautiful pair of hands. It's tough on Sean that he's missing it but that's the way it goes.

"It's a great race to win. I've had plenty of big race winners here before but not the Kerry National.

"He could go for the Ladbroke Trophy at Newbury, and the Munster National is a possibility as well."

B.J. Geraghty, rider of Slowmotion (FR) trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was pulled up having never travelled during this race.

S.A. Shortall, rider of Vieux Morvan (FR) trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was pulled up having stopped quickly.

J.J. Burke, rider of Bay Of Freedom trained by Peter Fahey, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was pulled up having never travelled during this race.

The Stewards enquired into possible interference between the final fence and the winning post involving Snow Falcon, ridden by J.M. Moore, placed first and Saturnas (FR), ridden by P. Townend, placed second, where it appeared that Snow Falcon came off a straight line and drifted right towards Saturnas (FR) .

Evidence was heard from the riders concerned.

Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards made no alteration to the Judges placings and took no further action.

The Stewards received a report from the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Starter,Mr. Derek Cullen, that D. Robinson, rider of A Rated and A.E. Lynch, rider of Call It Magic had caused a false start by failing to comply with his instructions.

Evidence was heard from the starter and riders concerned.

Having viewed the recording of the false start and considered the evidence, the Stewards took no further action other than to advise both riders concerning their responsibility to comply with the starters instructions.

(AM & EM)