Raz best for Swan in Cork National

Four of the first five horses home in the Cork National today were trained in Meath as Skryne man Jimmy Swan saw his colours carried to victory when Raz De Maree took the spoils for local trainer Gavin Cromwell.

Cromwell also had the fourth home in As De Pique while Ardcath jockey Ger Fox had the steering duties on the winner. 

The Edward Cawley (Batterstown)-trained Forever Gold was a half-a-length second with Noel Meade's Thomond in fifth - Michael Hourgan's Undressed took third.

This was the third year in-a-row that a Meath-trained horse won the big race at Mallow as Noel Meade's Tulsa Jack was successful 12 months ago and Dermot McLoughlin's Vic's Canvas was best in 2014.

Raz De Maree won it in 2012 when trained by the late Dessie Hughes for Jimmy Swan.

Gordon Elliott was out of luck in the race, but saddled two winners on the card and he also completed a treble at Naas where Dunsany handler Andy Lynch was on the mark in the opener with Ben Dundee for local owner Christopher Jones.