Kelly wins Midlands National on Solitary Man Aidan Kelly landed a big winner when partnering Solitary Man to a 14/1 victory in the featured Kilmurray Group Midlands National Handicap Steeplechase. Trained by Enda Bolger for Mrs Paul Shanahan, Mrs MV Magnier, Mrs Justin Carthy and Mrs Ronnie Bartlett, the eight-year-old gradually improved from mid-division to lead before the last in the three mile-one furlong highlight.  Ridden out by Kelly, he defeated the J.P. McManus-owned Perceval Legallois by two and a-half lengths with another in the 'green and gold', Pride Of Place in third, one place in front of last year's winner Amirite. "It was great to get the opportunity of riding this lad,” said Kelly who rode a Cheltenham festival winner on Iroko in 2023  “Enda rang me the other morning before decs and asked me if I had a ride in the race, and I jumped at it. “I rode him that afternoon and he gave me a great old feel. I was happy enough coming here today. “He jumped well. He kind of wasn’t taking me there halfway through, but then Paul Townend came up on my outside and he locked on. I was delighted when that happened. “I was just hoping they’d give me a lead down to the last, even when he did get there he had a good look. “He was a class horse back in his day, and it’s nice to get the opportunity to ride him. “It’s my first day as a professional and it couldn’t have gone any better. “Hopefully I can stay on the winners' side of things and stay injury-free. That will be the main thing for the year. “I’ve only three racecourses left to ride winners at. Leopardstown, Killarney and Cork. Obviously they have Flat tracks there as well that I can’t ride at, I’ve a bit of a belly on me now! Maybe in the future.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
