Mason rewarded

The Martell Grand National winning team of owner-trainer Norman Mason and jockey Richard Guest finally struck at the Listowel Festival through Nosam yesterday.

Their five-horse raid at the six-day meeting deservedly yielded a dividend as Nosam responded bravely to defy top-weight in the Southampton Goodwill Handicap Chase.

"It's a pity the rain didn't come earlier or we might have done better with our horses here. But we have enjoyed the trip to Ireland - the food, the company and the Guinness," said Mason.

Guest adopted his usual waiting tactics on the top-weight although he was never far off the lead as Outlook Good in first time blinkers flattered before being outpaced in the home straight.

Guest had Nosam running strongly in third place behind Outlook Good and the bottom weight Irishman, but he had to get serious with Mason's runner going to the final fence as Irishman showed briefly in front for Shay Barry.

Safely over the last, however, Guest was not to be denied and Nosam responded well for a couple of cracks of the whip before Guest gave his traditional wave of the whip to the crowd as he passed the post a length in front in this £15,000 chase.

Outlook Good's trainer Arthur Moore and jockey Conor O'Dwyer had better luck earlier in the Carroll Novice Chase as another top-weight Coq De Mirande proved to good for evens favourite Young Whack to give the Moore stable their fifth winner of the week.

Madame Boulangere ran her rivals ragged to win a first prize of more than £100,000 in the Watership Down Stud Sales Race at Ascot yesterday. Hannon has an unmatched record in sales events such as this where the weight that each horse is set to carry is related to the purchase price paid for them at auction.

And Madame Boulangere, a 16 to 1 shot, was fast away from the stalls and led her 28 rivals - spread out across the width of the track - a merry dance throughout under Dane O'Neill. Lipstick, who looked a shade unlucky to finish second, was beaten by a length.