Ainama wins Connacht National for the Madden's

Trainer Niall 'Boots' Madden and his son, jockey, Niall 'Slippers' got off the mark for the 2012/13 National Hunt season at the perfect time as they landed the feature race at Roscommon this evening, the www.thetote.com Connacht National Handicap Chase, with Ainama

The JP McManus owned, 8yo son of Desert Prince has always had lots of ability but had been out of form since finishing fourth in a Grade 3 Novice Chase at Galway last October behind Sweeps Hill.

He did show encouraging signs of a possible return to form at Listowel last time out where he finished just over thirteen lengths fifth to Any Bets last Monday.

He re-opposed that fellow today but Ainama was just three pounds worse off this evening in comparison to twelve pounds last Monday.

Having opened last night at 14/1 with Paddy Powers the winner drifted out to 16/1 this morning. However he was supported on track from his opening show of 14/1 into 10/1 at the off.

Having raced in mid-division for much of the contest he made progress to track the leaders from the fourth last.

He was third at the second last and was ridden into second before the last. He then soon led and stayed on well on the run-in to hold on at the finish by a half a length from last year's winner Campbonnais (7/1) back in second.

The Charles Byrnes trained Campbonnais was due to carry 10-9 but his rider Davy Russell carried a pound overweight, so he carried 10-10.

The front running Our Victoria for Colin Bowe and Andrew McNamara ran a cracker to finish a further three parts of a length back in third at 14/1 while Action Master was a further length and a half back in fourth Bryan Cooper for Dessie Hughes at 20/1.

The fancied Jamsie Hall finished fifth at 15/2 under Davy Condon while the 11/2 favourite Prince Of Milan was sixth for Paul Carberry and Andrew Slattery.

Winning trainer Niall 'Boots' Madden said afterwards: "That was great, I'm delighted.

"He ran a nice race that last day at Listowel and he was a bit unlucky there. He loved the trip today. He is a handy horse but these are grand fences around here.

"He will get an entry in the Galway Plate now and may go there. Niall gave him a great ride."

Just six of the sixteen runners for the Connacht National last year managed to complete the course however twelve months on surprisingly all sixteen finished the three mile contest.

Donal Murphy & Thomas Weekes