There was Cheltenham Festival glory for Kilworth jockey Adrian Heskin, when he landed the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle (Grade 1) on the closing day of the major festival last Friday, March 13th.

Heskin, the retained rider for leading owner Barry Connell, rode 14/1 shot Martello Tower for trainer Margaret Mullins in soft conditions to claim one of his biggest victories in his relatively short career, edging Irish contender Milsean into second place by half a length in a field with 19 runners.

His 42nd winner of the season, Heskin already has a wealth of experience riding at Cheltenham given his young age. He became one of the youngest jockeys in modern times to win a race at the festival when landing the 2010 Cross Country Chase on a New Story.

BURKE TAKES MIDLANDS GRAND NATIONAL

While Glengoura native Johnny Burke also claimed a notable victory on the same week, when riding his first winner in the UK taking the feature Midlands Grand National Handicap Chase at Uttoxeter aboard the Jim Dreaper trained Goonyella (6/1). Burke, the retained rider for winning owners Ann and Alan Potts, was claiming 3lbs and held off Raz De Maree by 9 lengths in a dour contest, run over a stamina-demanding 4m 1f course.

See this week’s 50ShadesOfNeigh column for more on both jockeys’ success, as well as an update on Week 11 action from Avondhu area connections.

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