Shadow Paddy takes to fences in good style Shadow Paddy's first crack at fences couldn't have gone any better as he impressed in the Mann Family & Egan Electrical Beginners Steeplechase at Limerick. The race lost some lustre when both Ocastle Des Mottes and Soir De Garde were withdrawn due to the going. Shadow Paddy made eye-catching headway in third approaching the straight and knifed through to lead travelling well entering the straight. The horse he passed, Le Coq Hardi, was soon hard at work and a confident Gary Noonan was able to extend the advantage two out. Shadow Paddy was clear at the last and bounded in by an impressive 12 lengths at a well-backed 9/4. Le Coq Hardi, the 5/6 favourite, had no answers in second. The winner took the honours four times over hurdles including at Listed level at this track last October. Eoin McCarthy said: "The lads (Complete Package Syndicate) bought scarves with the horse's name printed going to Aintree, but were put back into the pockets quickly! We went over thinking we would genuinely be placed (in the Grade 1 Sefton Hurdle), but he had a little heart issue which, thanks to the vets, is now under control. "He has the makings of a nice horse, loves the summer ground and we can dream for the summer. He is a born chaser, Galway (Grade 3 novice chase) is the plan and he is the type of horse we are trying to attract into the yard. "The horse is named after Paddy McAuliffe, who had a good Flat horse with me in the past so, when I told him I had this good horse, he put a syndicate together. Paddy is a well-known character, as anyone who is a publican, politician and bookie is, and the syndicate are a great bunch of lads." Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
