Shadow Rider opens chasing account after a year off

Shadow Rider overcame a lay-off of 12 months when switching to fences to record a convincing win in the Irish Machinery Auctions Beginners Chase at Gowran Park.

Willie Mullins held a strong hand here with both Shadow Rider (4/5 favourite) and Aione (13/8), who was reappearing after a two years absence, dominating the market against five others rivals.

Mark Walsh elected to make all on the JP McManus-owned gelding and, despite making a mistake at the penultimate fence, the odds-on shot stayed on well to beat Joshua Webb by seven lengths.

Aione never got in a telling blow at his stablemate keeping on one paced a further three and a half lengths back in third.

Mullins said, “He loves the ground and I was really pleased how he quickened going to the last even though he had made all the running in testing conditions.

“We’ll put him up in grade and keep him to the minimum trip if we can.”