John “Shark” Hanlon completed a double on the afternoon when saddling the well-touted Mart Lane to make a winning debut in the bumper.
The 11/4 chance struck the front early in the straight under Brian Hayes, and kept on well under pressure to beat Burn And Turn by a length and a quarter with Portion Control another six lengths back in third. Shrapnel was the big disappointment, with the Charles Byrnes-trained newcomer backed down to 4/5. However he dropping away tamely approaching the straight eventually finishing a well beaten seventh of the eight runners.
Successful owner Barry Connell was also completing a double on the afternoon having won the handicap hurdle half-an-hour earlier with Glam Gerry
Winning trainer John “Shark” Hanlon said, “I'm delighted for Barry as he also owned this fella's brother Western Leader who was badly injured last year. I thought he'd be more impressive and was a Cheltenham horse. I'm not sure now and we'll have to talk it over before deciding what to do.”
“It's great to have a double on such a big day as this,” added Hanlon, who was earlier on the mark with Grade 2 novice hurdle winner Hidden Cyclone
Sean Graham introduced the six-year-old at 14/1 for the Cheltenham Festival Bumper.
