Vics Canvas won the final 'National' of the year when claiming Cork's renewal, the Paddy Power sponsored 3m4f event at Mallow today, for trainer Dermot McLoughling and jockey Conor Maxwell.

Vics Canvas stretched clear of his rivals in the straight for an eased down 10 lengths win over Dushrembrandt with last year's runner-up Unoccupied filling third.

The winner is owned by the Bodeen Bandits Partnership, whose three members include Attheraces presenter Gary O'Brien, also of Bayan 'fame'.

Afterwards McLoughlin stated “I wanted to run him in a handicap but couldn't because of the (fast) ground in the past few weeks.

“He is a very clear winded horse but has had ulcer problems. He loves soft ground and galloped away and might now go to Navan for the Troytown next.

“He turns 12 after Christmas so we'll just use him up on soft ground whenever we can; that's my biggest winner.”

Winning jockey Maxwell was also registering his biggest career success and, having steered a 50/1 winner (Scooping) at Down Royal yesterday, today stated “I previously won a good Grand National Trial Handicap at Punchestown but this is probably bigger. I ride out every morning for Dermot and am based in the north Co Dublin/Meath area.”

National 'mania' has hit racecourses in recent years with Cork's renewal the last this year, of a list which includes an Irish Grand National, Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Connaught along with Kerry, Killarney and Midlands.

By Thomas Weekes