Mount Sion conquers all at Downpatrick

Mount Sion showed his aptitude for the undulations at Downpatrick when scoring in the handicap chase over two miles seven furlongs.

The 8/1 chance finished half a length in front of Emperor Concerto (9/2), who wasn’t able to reel his rival in up the hill.

Well backed 13/8 favourite High Talk (from 5/2 in the morning) came home third beaten four lengths. He was aiming to land his fourth course success today.

Mount Sion had previously won a hunters chase at the Co Down venue last June on good to soft ground, but today’s good to firm going posed no problem to him.

The Enda Bolger-trained seven-year-old was last seen in a banks race at Punchestown in April where he came in 10th on soft ground.

“He did it well. When the horse fell with a circuit to go he got everything his own way in front. He enjoys it here. He won a hunters chase here,” Jockey Niall Madden, in the JP McManus colours, said.