Pahlavi lunges late to open account at Downpatrick Paddy Hanlon got up close home on Pahlavi to score for his father Shark in the Ulster Carpets Handicap Hurdle at Downpatrick. Registering a first success at the 25th time of asking, the eight-year-old defied topweight under a strong ride from his young pilot. Pushed along in mid division after jumping two out, the gelding went third after the final flight. Ridden to take second early on the run-in, the 15/2 chance kept on strongly to edge out Silent Dawn close home. At the line, only a head separated the front pair, with favourite Wing Back a further one-and-a-quarter lengths in arrears. Shark Hanlon said: "Danny (Mullins) rode him the last day and when he came back in, he turned to the syndicate and said 'this is one I left behind me'. He said everywhere he went, he ran into trouble. "We are after being very unlucky with him - one day a horse brought him out in Down Royal. Getting his ground is another thing. "There was a 15lb turnaround with the favourite (Wing Back) today. "They (Shark Hanlon Racing Club) are a great crowd. It is a big syndicate we have and this year I went back to get money off some and some pulled out, but all this crowd stayed with me. I think there was 30 left there now, and there was 60 or 70." Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
