Newcastle joy for This is Serious

This Is Serious justified favouritism with a memorable last gasp success under Tony Dobbin in a thrilling finish to the Tote Eider National at Newcastle today.

And the question now is where the Charlie Swan-trained gelding will run next, with the Martell Grand National in which he has 9st, the Midlands National (at Uttoxeter) and the Irish National at Fairyhouse all being mentioned in the immediate post-race celebrations.

Scotton Green, winner of the race in 2000 and runner-up last year, parted company with Russ Garritty at the 15th, Narrow Water, last year`s hero, fell three fences later while Sad Mad Bad was travelling sweetly when he came to grief at the fourth last.

And with Hugo De Grez pulled up after `gurgling`, Radiation led the charge to the final fence where conditional rider Ben Hitchcott conjured a great leap out of him, but gamely though he ran to the line, he could not quite hold the strong challenge from This Is Serious who got up in the last strides to win by a length.

There are six shares in the This Is Serious syndicate, spread among 12 Co Wicklow enthusiasts - nine of which were present - which include his breeder Marie Byrne and her husband Fergus.

Mrs Byrne said: 'It is absolutely wonderful, the horse has done us so many favours this season.

'He won the Cork Grand National and the Thyestes Chase and it is very difficult to believe he could come and win for us again.'

She continued: 'We also bred a brother to him and he went down country and we have not heard much about him, but we decided to hold on to This Is Serious and as it is so expensive to have a horse in training we decided to gather up a syndicate with friends from the Meath Arms - officially known as `Paddy`s` in Aughrin, run by Gerry Phelan!

'He is the first horse we have had in training and bred him as well makes it all so exciting.'