LAST season’s champion point-to-pointer Winged Leader (7/4 - 11/8 favourite) was the star of the show in Farmacaffley, where he claimed his 29th career success between the flags by winning the open lightweight on the card for the third consecutive year.
Although running only a week after his narrow defeat at the hands of Early Doors in Oldtown, the John Hegarty and Jennifer O’Kane-owned 11-year-old showed his usual grit and determination, as he took up the running with a circuit to go.
Given a forceful ride by Barry O’Neill when ridden after the third last, the champion by Winged Love was faced with two promising challengers on the approach to the straight; however, he galloped on resolutely and ground out a historic one-length victory.
He is now joint-third in the standings of the winning-most horses, alongside Ah Whisht and Corryvreckan, and the veteran will continue to strive for the record.
Handler David Christie stated: “He was a bit tired today, as last week’s race took a bit out of him, where he was very unlucky to get beaten. Then to come to the toughest track in Ireland, that was some performance. Where will we ever get one like him again? He may have had a hard race, but the ones behind him will have a harder one.”
Royal brace
King In The Park (9/2 - 4/1) supplied the leading combination of Barry O’Neill and David Christie with a double on the day, when he eventually broke his maiden tag at the 11th attempt.
Always up with the pace, the six-year-old was in a good rhythm from the drop of the flag, but on his way out onto the final circuit, he suddenly came off the bridle.
Under a determined ride, he kept responding to O’Neill’s urgings all the way up the steep climb, fending off Drumcliff Bay and the staying on Vicomte le Brave.
“He went off the bridle when he started to go away from home, but it’s the first time Barry has ridden him, so I thought if he could keep him there until the fourth last, we’d be in with a shout,” reported Christie.
“He has loads of ability, but saves so much for himself. He’s having a fair blow there too, so there will be improvement from that. I just thought it was an unbelievable ride from Barry.”
CORMAC Abernethy had a memorable afternoon at Armagh, recording the first double of his career as a handler. The first of these came in the four-year-old maiden with the impressive Skerry Hill (5/4 favourite).
The striking Order Of St George gelding was green beforehand, as well as during the race, but he utilised his high cruising speed to put his other two rivals to the sword.
With slick jumping also aiding his case, the bay showed a turn of foot after two out and maintained this advantage of eight lengths to the line over Bergamasquo.
“I told Oran [McGill] beforehand that he jumps and travels well,” Abernethy said. “I really fancied him today and it was plain sailing the whole way round. He’s a very quick horse, he covers ground, so he’s always using his cruising speed, he can quicken off it, as well as staying.
“I’d say the horse is the guts of 17 hands, so he’ll be a proper horse once he fills out for the track.”
Double down
The second leg of Abernethy’s double featured another Wilson Dennison-owned exciting youngster with Bally Free (4/1 - 6/1) staying on strongly in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden for a comprehensive victory.
He seized the initiative before the third last and, from this point, he began to increase the pace before pulling well clear with the eventual second Clough Clouds.
The son of Flemensfirth answered every call from Oran McGill and pulled out more and more before scoring comfortably by 12 lengths.
“He jumped away, the stiff track suited him and, being by Flemensfirth, he loved the ground. Once he jumped the last, he showed a turn of foot to go through the line strongly,” remarked Abernethy.
ON a day dominated by Northern horses, Bold Fury (2/1 - 5/2) finally recorded his second success in the winner-of-one, nearly a year after breaking his duck.
Regular novice rider Thomas Kileff bounced the gelding out and held a five-length advantage for much of the contest. His lead was whittled down by Weespoof before the third last and he was challenged all the way to the last by this rival.
The Califet gelding found an extra gear approaching the last and extended to score by two lengths.
Handler Ross Crawford, who recorded his first winner of the season, remarked: “He was very good and that’s probably the best ride Thomas has given to date. He looks to be getting better and better with time as well. There’s no doubt he can go on and continue to even progress on the track now. It takes a right horse to win around here.”
The illustrious family, which has served the Buchanans so well, supplied them with yet another winner, when Soldierstown (5/1 - 7/1) quickened past her rivals to score rather snugly in the mares’ maiden.
Given a patient ride by the in-form Shane Cotter, the sibling of Malone Road, Windsor Avenue and Ravenhill Road, started to creep into contention halfway down the back, before showing a sharp turn of foot around the outside to hit the front.
The Jane Buchanan-owned debutante still showed her inexperience when running green before the last, but she still kept on well for cosy victory.
Handler Peter Buchanan stated: “She’s a very tough mare; my father and sister bred her. It’s a good family now and we’ve been very lucky with it.
“I feel sorry for Dara [McGill], because he did all the work and schooling on her, but Shane [Cotter] gave her a nice ride, taking his time. We’ll keep a hold of her to breed now, as Zafferella has now been retired.”
Horse to Follow
Ready To Flow (N. Kelly): The daughter of Malinas was given a patient ride, but made a mistake at four out when starting to make progress. This unfortunately halted her momentum momentarily, and this was a very encouraging showing on debut, which she can certainly progress from.