Connell and Flanagan on the mark with Hashtag Pretender Hashtag Pretender became the third winning favourite of the evening when taking the J.F. Hanley Groundscare Beginners Chase for Barry Connell and Sean Flanagan at Roscommon. The 5/4 shot rallied gamely after a mistake at the second-last fence to peg back 13/2 chance Killeemore Lad at the last, before going on to win by four and a half lengths, with 11 lengths back to the third horse, Piccolo Player at odds of 4/1. “It was a very ordinary beginners’ chase. We’ve a rating of 124 and hopefully the handicapper will drop us a good bit for that now,” said Connell. “The third horse was only 104. He was entitled to win it on his rating. “We had a little concern over the ground but I don’t think it was too bad. He’s one of the few horses that we have that handles proper summer ground. “He grabbed at the second last and missed it and what I liked today was when he got headed, he battled back. “Last year he was making the running and when he got headed that was the end of him, but they were much better races last year. “With a clear round he was entitled to go and do that, you’ll struggle to find a weaker beginners’ chase all year. “I don’t think he’s good enough for any of the novices and I’m hoping the handicapper will drop him a little bit.”
