Well Run runs well

Well Run made just about every yard of the running to secure his third win of the season in the Powers Ulster Grand National at Downpatrick.
Trained by the resurgent Noel Meade, the 6-1 second favourite soon assumed his role as pacesetter and travelled kindly for Paul Carberry.
Jumping like a buck, Well Run set a decent pace in the three-mile-four-furlong test and only two of his rivals seemed to be travelling with any comfort as the field entered the business end.
Of those, 5-2 favourite Arbor Supreme dropped away late as his stamina gave out and eventual runner-up Forest Leaves (12-1) could only plug away at one pace.
That left Well Run to ping the last and gallop on strongly to register a convincing five-and-a-half-length success.
Forest Leaves hung on for second, while 8-1 shot Operation Houdini grabbed third.
Meade said: "This horse won on New Year's Day and was the last winner I had (before a quiet patch).
"I never thought there was much wrong with the horses and we never found any virus or infection in their blood.
"It was just frustrating that they kept stopping quickly.
"All I said to Paul on going out was that I didn't mind if he made the running.
"He (Well Run) made the running in his work the other morning and he went very well.
"I'd be keen to go for the Irish National and think he needed to go up a few pounds to make sure he'd get in that."
The George Stewart-trained News Item was seeking a third successive win in the gruelling handicap but his supporters were left downcast after the gelding got no further than the first
The Big G
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