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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Great White Shark devours Galway hill

Fri 31st Jul 2020, 18:50

Grey Great White Shark in front of My Sister SarahGrey Great White Shark in front of My Sister Sarah
© Photo Healy Racing

Despite running keenly for a long way, Great White Shark (5/1) galloped strongly up the hill to win the Grade B Guinness Handicap Hurdle at Galway for Willie Mullins.

She came back on the bridle to pick up the lead two out under Paul Townend (deputising for David Mullins).

The six-year-old grey mare had the field cooked with the exception of stablemate My Sister Sarah (8/1), who gamely tried to stay with her.

Great White Shark didn't relent, though, and was driven out to account for the runner-up by two lengths. Flooring Porter was seven lengths adrift in third at 8/1. Diamond Hill cut a swathe through the field coming to two out, but left her hind legs in that obstacle which ended her challenge. She was a further seven and a half lengths off Flooring Porter in fourth at 6/1.

Assistant trainer David Casey said: "She obviously likes the place and won the big amateur race last year and was also third in this. She also ran well again here the other night (when a strong-finishing seventh in the qualified riders' handicap).

"Paul said they didn't go very quick but she obviously likes it here and it's a case of 'horses to courses' really.

"My Sister Sarah ran well also, she keeps galloping well and is a decent mare."

This was the last day of National Hunt racing at the festival and Townend was crowned leading National Hunt rider.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.