Published: Wednesday, 23rd September, 2009 4:57pm

Martin lands first Kerry National

Trainer Tony Martin maintained his recent good form when he won the Guinness Kerry National at Listowel on Wednesday.

Ruby Walsh partnered the Martin-trained Northern Alliance (4/1) to victory in the highlight of the Festival at the Kerry track.

Owned by New York publican Aidan Shields of the Irish Rover Syndicate, Northern Alliance provided Martin with his first victory in the race as he edged out Church Island by a length, with another Martin horse, Royal County Star owned by the Dunsany Racing Syndicate a neck away in third for Paul Carberry.

"I'm thrilled for the lads in the syndicate as they have been with me for years," stated the trainer.

Nina Carberry landed the bumper on Wednesday with the Henry de Bromhead-trained Fort George.

Another Meath owner, Stephen Curran, was also celebrating at Listowel last week when Next Week won a maiden hurdle.

Trained by Jimmy Mangan, Next Week made all to narrowly win a novice hurdle on Friday.

According to the trainer, chasing will be the long-term objective, but the seven-year-old gelding, which was bred by Rosemary Swan, will remain hurdling this season.

Drumree jockey Barry Geraghty completed a hat-trick of chase wins on the Paul Magnier-trained Duers on Friday.

The Aintree Grand National is the main objective for Duers next year.

Paul Carberry was stood down for 48 hours following a fall at Listowel on Thursday.

Carberry was on board the Martin-trained Dream Champion in a novice chase, but only got as far as the second fence.

Dream Champion won at Listowel two years ago, but hasn't managed to get his head in front since although he was second in a similar race at Limerick in July for trainer Martin.

Noel Meade's Sweet Wake, which was a big fancy for Cheltenham in 2007, returned to action earlier this year after a long lay-off, but was pulled up after the fourth flight in the Guinness Handicap Hurdle at the Kerry track on Thursday.

Barry Geraghty's brother, Ross, will be aiming to ride some winners in the USA between now and the end of November.

Ross Geraghty travelled to the USA last week to link up with leading jumps trainer Tom Voss and he is expecting to be in action at Monmouth Park this weekend.

This will be his first stint across the Atlantic although he has ridden in France for Francois Coitin and was a member of the Irish team that competed in the annual challenge against Australia a few years ago.

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