THE 2018 Irish Gold Cup winner Edwulf (1/1-4/6F) was the star turn at the Galway Blazers fixture at a predominantly sunny Dartfield last Sunday. The 10-year-old started a new chapter in his remarkable career having his initial start for handler Enda Bolger in the six-runner open-lightweight.
Last seen securing third position in a graded chase at Gowran Park in February, the J.P. McManus-owned gelding produced an assured display of jumping under Aine O’Connor and was ultimately unextended to outpoint pointing debutant Foxtail Hill by six lengths. “He did it very well today. It’s amazing to ride a horse like him. He always had things under control and gave me a super feel,” commented O’Connor.
Punters had earlier witnessed a smart performance in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden as the Denis Murphy-handled Midnight Legacy (7/4-5/4F) created a very favourable impression on her first career start. Jamie Codd took the mount on the daughter of Getaway who eased to the front early in the straight and had any amount to spare in scoring by four lengths from Lady Violet.
“This mare is all of 17hh and has taken a lot of time. She even looked a bit green there,” observed Murphy of his close relation to former high-class chaser Master Of The Hall. “We feel there’s massive improvement to come from her and she’ll likely be sold now.”
THIS fixture will live long in the memory of both handler Tony Kelly and amateur James Duggan who combined to notch up first wins in their respective disciplines as Captain Jimmy (6-8/1) upstaged some better fancied opponents in the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.
Patiently-ridden throughout by Duggan, the Gold Well-sired newcomer took closer order after two-out and appeared to have got the measure of The Brig at the final fence where that rival parted company with his rider, leaving the Declan Cunningham-owned bay to carry the day by eight lengths from Mustmeetforapint.
“I can’t thank Declan and his family enough. They’ve been very supportive of me since I started. James gave the horse a fine ride, he never panicked. We’ll see how he comes out of this, but he’ll probably stay pointing for now,” stated Kelly.
Last season’s Lingstown runner-up For Talks Sake (3-7/2) maintained Colin Bowe’s excellent strike-rate this season when running out a convincing winner of the opening younger geldings’ maiden. Confidently ridden by Rob James, the Coastal Path-youngster did everything at his leisure throughout this contest and needed only to be shaken up in the home straight to oblige by eight lengths from Ocean Drifter.
“We liked this horse a lot coming here and he had a lovely run last spring. You’d have to love the way he did it today and he’ll go to one of the upcoming sales now,” said successful trainer Bowe, who shares ownership with the winning rider.
For good measure, Rob James also landed the closing winner of one contest as My Story (3-4/1) enjoyed a winning return to points action on his debut for trainer Sean Doyle. A four-year-old maiden scorer for the victorious handler’s brother Donnchadh in 2014, the Court Cave-gelding had five outings in the UK in the interim without success. However, the Monbeg Partnership-owned bay proved a class apart from his five rivals on this occasion and had little difficulty in accounting for Rockin Roxtown by 20 lengths.
“This horse had just lost his way a little over in England. Tom George, his former trainer, suggested I take him and freshen him up. It’s worked out and he’ll probably go for another winners race,” said Doyle.
Hourigan has potential Star
MICHAEL Hourigan appears to have a useful prospect on his hands in the shape of Elusive Star (6-8/1) who claimed the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. The son of Elusive Pimpernel, who carries the colours of Hourigan’s wife Anne, responded well to the urgings of Johnny Barry after the final fence to collar the favourite Get Real by half a length.
Elusive Star had been a promising fourth in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown last February, and Hourigan said: “This is a horse I like an awful lot. It’s a while since I’ve had one that can jump and do everything like him. I will try and find a two-and-a-half-mile bumper for him now otherwise he’ll go hurdling.”
Horse to Follow
Get Real (P O’Connor): This son of Getaway produced a cracking effort in the five-year-old geldings maiden, only giving best to Elusive Star late in the day. He can gain compensation when next seen.
Fine Loughrea crowd
SUNDAY’S fixture, which was run on the lands of the Leahy Family, drew a fine crowd. Those in attendance were well catered for as adjacent to the weigh-tent the Galway Blazers provided a hospitality tent. There was ice-cream, chips and tea/coffee available further infield. The younger generation was also well looked after with a play area, and a dog show was also held on the afternoon.
Great start for Kelly
LOCAL handler Tony Kelly’s first day with a handler’s licence could scarcely have gone much better as his Captain Jimmy claimed victory in the older geldings’ maiden. The former UK-based jockey explained: “I had my first ever runner earlier on the card so for this horse to win is mighty. I was in the north of England for eight years but had to retire from race-riding on medical advice having broken my back about a year and a half ago. I’ve been back home in Craughwell helping with my dad Pat since,” outlined Kelly.
Duggan ‘over the moon’
THE 17-year-old James Duggan was seen to excellent effect when successful aboard Tony Kelly’s Captain Jimmy. “I’m over the moon with that. To get my first win at my local hunt’s track makes it very sweet,” said Duggan, following his first ride between the flags, having had some bumper rides.
“I’m riding out with Tony (Kelly) and his father Pat as often as I can. They have both been very good to me from the start. working hard now to improve further,” concluded the Clarin College Athenry Leaving Certificate student.
Tinahely Sunday
CHILDREN will be admitted free to the Shillelagh Hunt point-to-point in Tinahely on Sunday. General admission is €10 and racing starts at 2pm.