THERE WAS a sad postscript to the Toals Bookmakers Ulster Grand National at Downpatrick yesterday when Chief Oscar suffered a heart attack after passing the post in front.

Trained locally by Brian Hamilton, the 16 to 1 chance produced a couple of fine leaps at the final two fences to hold a clear advantage turning for home.

He answered Andrew Lynch’s every call on the run-in to win by a neck from Bally Wall.

But the nine-year-old stumbled to the ground as Lynch was pulling up and did not rise to his feet.