IT was a day to live long in the memory for amateur rider Aileen O’Sullivan whose delight at riding her first winner was apparent for all to see after she crossed the line in front on American Image in the two-mile handicap chase. This 12-year-old, who was giving Antrim-based trainer Michael Millar a second winner just six days after he recorded his initial success at Sligo, was recording his first success on the track at odds of 28/1. The winning jockey jointly owns the winner with Neil Gault and to his credit American Image bravely held off the late challenge of Cluan Dara.
“He travelled and jumped like an absolute star, he never missed a bit. He was fantastic and Neil Gault has done an incredible job with this horse. I am over the moon and only for Neil and Michael I wouldn’t be here. This means the world to me,” exclaimed the elated winning rider who lit up the afternoon with her delight at this success.
A 20/1 surprise was lying in wait in the first of the day’s handicaps as Sadies Trix gave Peter Fahey his second winner in five days. This Timothy Delaney-owned daughter of Flemensfirth was making her first venture outside of maiden company in the 80-95 rated two-mile handicap hurdle and was travelling notably well in behind the leaders turning for home. Kevin Sexton just had to bide his time for an opening to appear but he didn’t have to wait too long and Sadies Trix made her way to the front jumping the last to see off the top-weight, Glebe Girl, by two lengths.
There was also a 16/1 winner of the 80-102 rated amateur riders’ handicap hurdle over two and a half miles where Live Every Day struck under Simon Cavanagh, who is the son of the winning owner-breeder Richard Cavanagh. John Joe Walsh’s charge was second at Listowel on his penultimate start and was restored to that form as he edged out Resurrected Duke in very willing fashion. This was a second winner in four days for the rider.
HENRY de Bromhead held sway at this fixture as he notched up an opening-race double which was brought up by a couple of nice types.
The Co. Waterford trainer has an interesting prospect on his hands in Irascible. The Gigginstown House Stud-owned son of Jukebox Jury made one just one appearance in the point-to-point field, when fifth back in March 2019, and he looked the stable second string behind the odds-on Decimation in the two-mile maiden hurdle. However, he was backed from 18/1 into 17/2 and he turned in a nice effort under Dylan Robinson.
The half-brother to Kruzhlinin had plenty to do from fourth on the approach to the straight but improved to track the leading pair into the last flight and kept on powerfully to sweep by Decimation on the run-in and carry the day by two and three quarter lengths. There was a further gap of eight lengths back to the 118-rated Envious Editor who gives the form a solid look.
“He’s a nice horse with a good pedigree and always worked well. I thought he’d need the run in terms of experience but Dylan gave him a lovely ride and nursed him around,” said the trainer.
“The first two are two nice horses and we’re happy with both. The winner has plenty of gears and might just have been green. He’ll improve for the experience.”
Earlier, de Bromhead struck with Boher Cailin (100/30) who made a winning debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle over just short of two and a half miles.
This Martin Keating-owned and bred daughter of Mahler produced an accomplished display from the front for Rachael Blackmore and looked to have this race under control from some way out. She ran out a cosy three-length winner over Chenery. The odds-on favourite Elizabeth J was pulled up injured after the fourth last.
“Ian Power has done most of the work with her. She won her point for him and she came to me about a month ago,” reported the trainer. “She’s a lovely mare who should come on plenty for this. Rachael said she took a couple of blows and I’m delighted for Martin who would like to sell her.”
THE very useful Western Victory (6/5) notched up her second win over fences and the fifth of her career in the two-and-a-quarter-mile mares’ conditions chase.
The Declan Queally-trained seven-year-old fell at the final fence in a Listowel novice chase when still holding the lead but was clearly none the worse for that experience and she ensured that the freewheeling Andalusa could never get too far ahead. The latter’s efforts were such that nothing else ever got into the race but she looked beaten early in the straight and could do no more when Sean O’Keeffe and Western Victory moved on from the second last. When the Sean O’Neill-owned mare cleared the last, victory was assured and she finished 16 lengths ahead of Make My Heart Fly.
“She’s not over big and you’d be careful where you’d run her but she’s a good mare with a big heart. It’s quite possible she might go back over hurdles at some stage for a good handicap, but there’s some nice mares’ novice chases for her at Mallow and Thurles over the next few months to think about as well,” stated Queally.
Burke’s fine season
Liam Burke has already enjoyed quite a season and he moved into double figures for the campaign when Yaiza and his trustee ally Darragh O’Keeffe struck at 14/1 in the www.grahamnorris.com Memorial Handicap Hurdle.
This lightly raced nine-year-old went off a big price considering he had won two of his last three starts and he had no trouble switching back to hurdles after scoring over fences at Tramore two weeks previously.
On his first try at three miles, the Lanzarote Partnership-owned gelding relished every yard of this trip and he recovered well from pecking on landing two out to finish with a strong charge that carried him past Eimear late on. O’Keeffe has been on board for all four of Yaiza’s career wins.
“The ground was a worry and he was trying this trip for the first time. Liam told me to ride him for a bit of luck. He’s not the biggest but he’s very tough and the fact he has handled this ground opens up more options for him,” stated the winning rider.