IT was very disappointing for all involved that the first running of the Ulster National under the Randox banner took place behind closed doors at Downpatrick last Sunday especially as there was such an exciting finish to the feature race where last year’s winner, the Keith Watson-trained Amaulino, went down by a battling two lengths to Space Cadet.

Chris Jones’s successful Flemensfirth gelding provided Co Meath trainer Gearoid O’Loughlin with his biggest success to date while the 10-year-old, who was sent off a 25/1 shot in the 15-runner field gave rider, Ben Harvey, his first victory on the racecourse.