Bella Union springs surprise to make the breakthrough at 10 Bella Union sprang a 22/1 surprise to deny Gavin Cromwell of a four-timer in the Tony Marmion Memorial Handicap Hurdle. Without a win in 18-starts and rated just 74, the John McConnell-trained victor went unsold for just 900 pounds when offered for sale in October. Since finishing down the field at Down Royal and Clonmel respectively, the Derek Kierans-owned 10-year-old raced in mid-division under Simon Torrens. Short of room after three out and soon pushed along, the Mahler bay made progress from the next and got to the front on the run to the final flight. Ridden and keeping on well in the closing stages, he ultimately beat Cromwell's Struck Oil (5/1) by a length-and-a-quarter, with the same distance back to Ode To Joy (9/1) in third. Returned at 33/1, Jurality finished fourth, while 4/1 favourite Ballinearla Girl was fifth. "He surprised me a bit," Torrens remarked. "I rode him early on in his career for John years ago, but he is a bit of a boyo - he is what he is. "I was chatting to John this morning, he is in Ayr, and he said 'I'll leave it to you, maybe halfway or somewhere like that and creep away'. I didn't get the clearest of runs turning in, but I actually think it helped him. He put his head down and did it well then." Additional reporting by Michael Graham
