IT was a calm but crisp day on the Ards Peninsula, which made for perfect racing conditions around Kirkistown.
A poor entry overall disappointed many in attendance, but as we see more frequently now, small fields don’t always result in bad races and Noel McParlan was one of two riders to secure a double on the card, beginning with No Risk Today (7/4 - 9/4 favourite), who showed she has a big engine in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.
The Gerald Quinn-handled mare was always close to the pace before picking up the lead after the third last.
The €95,000 store quickened away from her two nearest pursuers before the straight and, even with a mistake at the last, she still defeated Thatsjustme by seven lengths for owner Philip McBurney.
“We loved her from day one,” Quinn said. “She was very weak as a four-year-old and that’s why we didn’t run her, but she’s really strengthened up now and she’ll probably improve loads from today, as she was green when she hit the front.”
Doubling up
The second leg of McParlan’s double came in the concluding contest, with Drumnasoo (5/6 - 10/11 favourite) prevailing in a very close finish to the older maiden.
Run at an honest gallop, this race became a four-horse contest on the last circuit, where it was two of the market protagonists who pulled clear.
Vicomte Le Brave really laid down the gauntlet to the odds-on favourite from the second last all the way to the line. He was still upsides at the last, but the son of Flemensfirth just prevailed by a short head at the death.
Handler Ross Tumilty, for whom this was a first winner between the flags, stated: “I don’t have the horse that long. We ran him in a hunter chase at Limerick at Christmas and he pulled up, so we just decided to aim him at something a bit lower to get his confidence up.
“We weren’t too hard on him at home since and will be expecting plenty of improvement from today. That’s my first winner as a handler in point-to-points, so good to get that.”
DECLAN Lavery secured his double in the middle of the card, with Court Canyon (5/1 - 4/1) continuing Gavin Cromwell’s tremendous run of form in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The Danestown Racing Partnership-owned son of Court Cave was given an educational ride, before he quickened after the second last to grab the lead.
He was challenged by experienced rivals on both sides approaching the last, but battled well all the way to the line to score by a head from My Life Be Like.
Ian Donoghue, who brought the bay to the Down venue with his own runner, said: “Gavin liked him and said he thought he’d win. The second and third have loads of experience and he still battled well to beat them, so he’s a very nice horse.
“He ran green at the second last and, if he had got a clear run, he would have won a lot easier.”
The second leg of Lavery’s brace came aboard Hathaways Cottage (5/4 favourite), who claimed the mares’ winners-of-two in facile fashion.
Three horses set off, however, it soon turned into a match after the second fence, when Richieandsams Lady unseated her rider. From there on, Ray Nicholas’ mare bossed this contest and, although jumping right, she comfortably beat Tamlaght Eyes by three and three-quarter lengths.
David Christie junior, assistant to his father and namesake, commented: “She’s keen enough, but has a very big engine. Decky said that gave her a nice confidence boost today and hopefully she will come on for that.”
HARRY Goff guided Kanzler (5/2 -9/4) to a ready success in the four-year-old maiden, a first success in this category for the 18-year-old.
Trained by his father Mick, the French-bred was given a patient ride and moved smoothly to pick up the running with a circuit to go.
Fencing with ease, the Tai Chi gelding readily put the race to bed after two out and quickened again after the last to account for Warren Ewing’s Intense Appeal.
Kanzler is owned by Pat McCarthy, in partnership with the Wexford handler, however, McCarthy was unable to attend due to a bereavement and therefore this was a poignant success.
“He was very good and did that very easily,” the winning rider commented. “We could’ve gone around again, he never missed a beat and gained a length at every fence. He’ll be a lovely horse in the future, he has loads of speed.” The winner will now head to the Tattersalls Cheltenham February sale.
Competitive contest
The open lightweight was a typically competitive race contest, as is to be expected for the venue, with recent Tyrella winner Carnfunnock (6/4 - 7/4) coming up against the six-time winner Ballyphilip.
Given a patient ride behind a very strong pace, Carnfunnock slowly crept into contention on the final circuit. The Getaway gelding challenged the long-time leader, Ballyphilip, before the straight and really showed his class under Stephen Connor to outstay that main rival to win by two lengths.
Improving
The Largy Bloodstock-owned eight-year-old could now line up in next month’s Cheltenham Festival with his handler Stuart Crawford stating: “He’s been good, with his jumping improving all the time. He isn’t a very experienced horse and had never won a chase on the track. I’d say there’s still a lot of improvement to come from him.
“I’ll consider some of the hunter chases when we see how is in the next few weeks. I would definitely consider Cheltenham, I think he stays well and he’s got that bit of speed.”
Horse to Follow
Brootally (P. Buchanan): This €22,000 store purchase jumped and travelled with ease on his debut in a competitive field. Ultimately, the Wings Of Eagles gelding paid for his inexperience when failing to get the landing gear out at the back of the second last. He will come on massively for this experience and should prove worth watching.