O'Farrell & Pipe win Midlands National

Minella Four Star won the totesport.com Midlands Grand National Chase at Uttoxeter.

The eight year old was prominent throughout the four mile one and a half furlong contest and ran on strongly to cap a fine week for conditional jockey Conor O'Farrell.

The David Pipe trained eight year old had been pulled up after being hampered when well backed on his preceding start in the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster but made handsome amends for those supporters that kept the faith.

Racing just in behind the early pacesetter Nicto De Beauchene, he jumped into the lead with five fences to jump and kept a series of challengers at bay to score by 11 lengths.

O'Farrell, a 21-year-old from Kilkenny, said after the 25-1 success: "That was brilliant and it's just my second ride over fences, the first one was a year ago.

"I've done loads of schooling at Mr Pipe's and that has helped my confidence so much."

"It's been some week, I won't forget it in a hurry."

O'Farrell added: "He galloped and jumped superbly the whole way. After each fence he took a gulp of air and headed for the next. He was relentless and is an out and out stayer."

With Pipe in Dublin for the England/Ireland rugby international, assistant trainer Gerry Supple said: "Minella Four Star came from the same Cheltenham sales as Junior."

"He ran a lovely race first time back at Ffos Las, and was running well when he was hampered on his previous start at Doncaster."

"He has a lovely bunch of owners, all builders, from Bristol."

Pete Green, spokesman for the owners Ashton Racing Club said: "All being well he'll be aimed at the Grand National next season."

Last year's winner and favourite Synchronised had looked more likely to be pulled up than contest the finish for much of the marathon event but remarkably looked the only danger to the winner coming to the last.

However, his exertions told and he faded into third on drying ground that had gone against him.

Ballyfitz had also been under pressure for much of the contest and stayed on to finish a never nearer second whilst the winner's stablemate, Gentle Ranger, finished fourth (and last of the 17 starters to finish) having raced prominently throughout.

The well backed Tricky Trickster was an early departure when falling at the second whilst Triggerman was still challenging for the minor places when refusing at the last.

Halcon Genelardais was pulled up after the 15th fence and is likely to be retired.

Noel Williams, assistant trainer to Alan King, said: "I spoke to the owners straight after the race and they said that would be it, and he'd be retired into the hunting field."

"He's been a wonderful servant, winning the Welsh National and going so close in it the following year, as well as finishing fourth in the Gold Cup. He owes nobody anything."

The winner won his point-to-point at Templemore for Trevor Horgan back in April of 2008.