Carberry sustains suspected broken collarbone

Nina Carberry sustained a suspected broken collarbone when unshipped from Another Palm at the second fence in the Toals Bookmakers Ulster Grand National EBF Handicap Chase at Downpatrick yesterday.

She was deputising for her brother Paul on the Noel Meade-trained grey and was taken to hospital for X-rays.

Pineau De Re ran away from the opposition in the closing stages for a convincing success. Shabra Charity was the only threat to Pineau De Re (13/2), trained by Philip Fenton, after long-time leader Sole Witness cried enough three out.

Pineau De Re, owned by Barry Connell, found another gear for Danny Mullins and went on to win by 23 lengths from Shabra Charity.

Kingsmoss was two and a half lengths away in third.

Fenton said of the winner: “The better ground was a big help. He’s improved with each run of the season. He was a bit ‘guessy’ (in his jumping) early on in the season.

“He is progressing but he lacks a bit of scope.

“I was a bit worried that three and a half miles was too far for him. I’d say he’ll bypass Punchestown as he likes a bit of time between his races.

“He could be a Midlands National or Galway Plate type but he’d have to improve a bit.”

Meanwhile, the Philip Hobbs-trained Quinz has been ruled out of the Grand National following an unsatisfactory scope.

His defection means Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Major Malarkey is now guaranteed a run in the 4½-mile contest.