MACIVER (4/1 favourite) completed a hat-trick of consecutive wins at Clonmel on Thursday, where the Ivor Dulohery-owned-and-bred eight-year-old landed the Clonmel Handicap Chase under jockey Cian Quirke.
Initially successful in a Tramore maiden hurdle in 2022, Maciver gained his second career success at that course on New Year’s Day, before following up at Limerick and again on Thursday.
Held up behind the leaders, Quirke improved the winner to lead on the inside jumping the final fence, scoring by a short-head from Spellacy’s Cross.
Trainer Arthur O’Grady, a lifelong friend of Dulohery, later reported, “that was brilliant and to win by a short-head was great. He got a lovely ride from Cian, who followed instructions to a tee. He’ll go for a chase next on March 13th at Limerick.”
Back-to-back
Another horse to complete consecutive wins was the Ciaran Murphy-trained Moudan (7/1) in the Clonmel Novice Handicap Hurdle, which followed up a recent Limerick success under Eoin Walsh. Moudan made virtually all and scored by four and a quarter lengths from Krabat.
Afterwards, trainer Murphy reported: “It is lovely to follow up and we said we’d wait for this race, as he handles that ground. I wasn’t enamoured with the two hurdles being taken out up the home straight, as jumping is his forte.
“He got it done though and, while he got a lovely run around in front, company is good for him. I don’t know how much more is in the locker, but he is improving away.
“There is a rated beginners’ chase back here in a month and we have half an eye on that. It is very good for the owner/breeder Pat McCormack, who is a good supporter of mine and I’m delighted for him.”
Landing a gamble
A morning-gamble was landed in the concluding Rosegreen Handicap Hurdle, as Robert Tyner’s lightly-raced seven-year-old Bridie Whittle (morning 16/1, returned 5s) rewarded connections with a one-and-a-quarter-length win over Imperial Tune.
Ridden by Tyner’s longtime ally, jockey Philip Enright, Bridie Whittle improved from midfield to lead from the second-last and held on well on the run-in.
Tyner reported: “She had been off from a long time, so we were pleased with her run in Punchestown the last day over two and a half miles. We weren’t sure about the three miles today, but she seemed to travel well and did everything grand.
“She doesn’t do anything classy at home and is workmanlike, but she seems to handle that ground well and is comfortable on it. Michael Walsh and John Carroll (owners) are from Waterford and had Direct Image with me in the past. She won five consecutive races, but they were unlucky, as they lost her when she would have made a lovely broodmare.”
BIGGEST-priced winner was 66/1 chance Volez Vous in the Cloneen Mares Handicap Hurdle, as the six-year-old mare scored a maiden success for trainer Daryl Deacon and 7lb-claiming jockey Ben Kennedy.
Nicely-bred, but previously unplaced from nine starts, Volez Vous raced prominently and scored by three-parts of a length from Bhean Saibhra.
Deacon later stated: “We had her half-sister De Lady In Red (dual winner), who came a lot quicker, but this filly has just taken longer. Ricky Doyle rode her one day and said the Yeats’ all take a bit of time.
“We were just hoping to see some improvement today, as she was nearly on her last chance, so it was a surprise and I’m delighted. We claimed Ben’s 7lb as well and every little helps.
“We also have some point-to-pointers and store horses for the sales, so we had a few inspected this morning. This mare is owned by my father William, who along with my mother, is unfortunately in a nursing home.”
Mother’s love
Successful owner/trainer Seamus Neville was taking none of the credit for naming his winner Onlymammycanloveme (9/4 favourite), as the chesnut gelding scored a battling success under Tiernan Power Roche in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle
Well-known hotelier Neville revealed, “he won his point-to-point first time out, which swung us in his direction, and he landed to me as a named horse. Once he wins, I don’t mind his name and it might have helped us in buying him!
“He is a fine big horse and his future is over fences. He is immature still, needs give in the ground and a further trip will also suit. I’m happy out with him and it is early enough in the season, so he’ll run away for another while.”
RACING began with Paggane (15/8) leading home a Willie Mullins-trained 1-2 in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase, beating left-jumping stablemate Karia Des Blaises. Paggane’s jockey Paul Townend waited behind Karia Des Blaises and pounced on the inside, once that rival jumped left at the second last and quickened up to score by two and a quarter lengths.
Townend reported: “She has been very consistent without winning, has been running to a good standard and has been on the go for a long time.
“She loves jumping fences and I gambled that Brian (Hayes, on Karia Des Blaises) was going to jump left going down the home straight, and it worked out.”
Ellaat (4/1) registered an eighth career success in the Nire Valley Claiming Hurdle and, having been claimed for €6,000, moves from trainer Charles Byrnes to Ian O’Connor’s yard. Ridden by Philip Byrnes, Ellaat improved past leader Connors Cross at the last and beat that rival by a length and a half.
Prior to being claimed, trainer Byrnes had said: “Ellaat is what he is, but is a great old servant. Once the favourite Robinstown was taken on for the early lead, he didn’t want to know and Ellaat had travelled well into the race. I don’t know are there any more claimers coming up.”