Ned could be Connacht National bound

Six Stone Ned (3/1jfav) got off the mark over fences on just his second attempt as he took the Mullingar.ie Beginners Chase under Davy Condon for Noel Meade.

The grey seven-year-old son of Great Palm jumped the last alongside Playtime Ben (14/1) but he kept on best on the run-in to see off that rival by three parts of a length at the line.

The Tom Taaffe trained Heaney was the other joint favourite and he finished a further ten lengths back in third under Paul Townend.

The winner is owned by the Desperado Syndicate from New Ross and Noel Meade said afterwards: "When the other horses came out I had a discussion with the owners and we decided to let him take his chance.

"Davy gave him a great ride and he loves the fast ground. He is a good jumper but he did step a bit at the last.

"He will be kept on the go now for the summer and he could go for the Connacht National at Roscommon."