Sport

Riverside leaves it late for Elliott

THE 2015 Toals Bookmakers Ulster Grand National produced a thriller with a photo needed to decide the winner at Downpatrick yesterday. The Gordon Elliott-trained Riverside City, owned by JP McManus, eventually got the nod over Man With Van.

The winner still had five horses in front of him going to the last, but he kept on up the climb to the finish to get his nose in front. "I wasn't sure about the trip but Davy [Condon] gave him a lovely ride,' said Elliott. "He dropped him in and took his time. He jumped a bit left over the last two fences. "I'm delighted as that's my first Ulster National. He could could to the Punchestown Festival for a race there."

Larne trainer Stuart Crawford, who saddled Man With Van, looked set to gain consolation in the Ulster's Real McCoy Chase when Ardmillan led going over the last.

However, he was collared by Town Pond, with the first and second partnered by twin brothers Ger and Anthony Fox. The McManus-owned Salsa Sensation, trained by Ted Walsh, was delivered with precision by the trainer's son Ruby to easily land the opening maiden hurdle. The complexion of the rated hurdle changed dramatically at the penultimate flight when Sailors Warn fell, bringing down Massini's Trap with the pair well in contention.

Gordon Elliott was left to pick up the pieces as he had the first two home with Knight's Parade beating Cape Glory.

Feel The Air was an appropriately-named winner in the race prior to the Ulster National, the winner trained in Sligo by Mark McNiff and partnered by Derek Fox.