Baran Bally Hi runs away with Grand National

Westmead Maldini: battled to Cearns Memorial victory

  PICTURE: STEVE NASH  

BARAN  BALLY HI, trained at Hove by Derek Knight for Steve Baran, ran away with the Cearnsport Grand National final at Sittingbourne Tuesday night.

With principal rivals Olivers Twist and Lenson Teddy (hopelessly left) both missing the kick, Baran Bally Hi followed up early leader Faithful Ranger before kicking on at the first bend for a comfortable near five lengths success in 29.53sec.

With bunching behind, Faithful Ranger, a 20/1 outsider, was runner-up for Arun Green with Olviers Twist plugging on for third.

Running in the name of Barans Removals, it was the most important victory for his enthusiastic owner who has previously had his Baran Geronimo runner-up in the 2006 National, after running third the year before.

The John Smith's Kent Derby final was overshadowed by a first bend collision between Westmead Adonis and Cash Game that left Westmead Adonis with a shattered foreleg. The injury was such that the dog tragically had to be put to sleep.

Ballycowen Dave had led up and was left clear for Chris Allsopp and owner Roly Woodcock. He beat Helenas Sailor by four and a half lengths in 29.01sec.

The previous race, the Cearns Memorial, had by contrast been an up for Nick Savva, the trainer of Westmead Adonis, when his Westmead Maldini, who looked to have lost his chance when crowded as he challenged at the third bend, rallied gamely to beat Jazz Apollo by a head on the line in 30.27sec. Broadway Fly had set a hot pace here, until Jazz Apollo kicked on at the third.

However it was sadly to prove a night the Savva kennel will now prefer to forget.