THE rescheduled Knockanard meeting took place under the auspices of the Avondhu Foxhounds on Saturday and, on an afternoon that saw all riders wearing black armbands in memory of the late Michael O’Sullivan, the Turlough O’Connor-trained/ridden Cloudy Tuesday came out best in the three-and-a-half-mile banks race.
The event attracted just five runners and last season’s Ladies Cup hero, Knockiel Synge, set out with the intention of making all. He was challenged by Cloudy Tuesday (5/2 - 3/1) on the descent to the third last of the 24 obstacles. Whilst Knockiel Synge was the faster away from this fence, he was pressed once more by the eventual winner on the run to the last.
The victorious 10-year-old, who was posting his fourth points success, then stayed on stoutly on the flat to dismiss fellow veteran Born To The Sea by a half-length.
“It’s great to win this race and he was better over some of the banks than he was over the fences,” said O’Connor of the admirable Cloudy Tuesday, owned and bred by his maternal aunt, Irene Walsh. Ms Walsh later dedicated the victory of Cloudy Tuesday to Michael O’Sullivan, her sister Veronica being married to the late 24-year-old’s uncle Eugene O’Sullivan.
The Verling and Mellerick families have long since been synonymous with points in the Cork and Waterford region. It was entirely fitting therefore that William Verling and Eric Mellerick both sampled success for the very first time on the day.
Nineteen-year-old Verling, who hails from nearby Castlelyons, opened his account aboard his mother Catherine’s Pure Decent (7/4 - 2/1 joint-favourite) in the five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts maiden.
It’s the teenager’s uncle Pat Verling that trains 10-year-old Pure Decent, a lightly-raced third-season campaigner, who benefitted from front-running tactics here and he stylishly asserted before the last to account for newcomer Could Be You by four lengths.
Killeagh native Eric Mellerick teamed up with Ken Budds to collect the six-year-old and upwards novice riders maiden aboard Curraheen Queen (4/1 - 5/1), a runner-up at Castlelands last term.
The eight-year-old mare stepped forwards from her eighth-placed return effort at Ballyvodock on February 2nd by giving chase to Jetbob from after two out and she mastered Alan Harney’s mount to score by two lengths in the silks of Batt Leahy.
THE Sam Curling-trained The Great Unknown easily justified 7/4 favouritism (from 9/4) in the mares’ winners of one in the hands of Derek O’Connor, much to the dismay of the 12 bookmakers present.
Ex-track performer The Great Unknown, previously trained by Henry de Bromhead, made a victorious points debut at Bellharbour on February 2nd and she mostly gave chase to leader Margarita Grande, even if she was pushed along briefly after the fourth last.
The victorious six-year-old, acquired by present connections for €17,000 at this past December’s Goffs sale, effortlessly picked up the running after two out.
She then came home with eight and a half lengths to spare over Crohan Lady, in the colours of her handler’s mother, Adelia Greer.
Curling reported of The Great Unknown, whose dam is a half-sister to Eddie Harty’s Grade 1 winning novice chaser, Coney Island: “She did it well and will stay pointing, she might take over from La Feline, who will be covered this year. “
Derek’s double
The Great Unknown’s rider Derek O’Connor partnered two winners, as he earlier took the two and a half mile four-year-old maiden aboard newcomer Best Trump (5/2 - 3/1), whom he also trains for J.P. McManus.
Best Trump, a €72,000 graduate of the 2024 Goffs Arkle sale that’s out of an own-sister to Grade 1 placed chaser Winter Escape, was left second behind Canty’s Cove, when both Mister St Eloi and A Real Banter departed four out.
The winning son of Walk In The Park, having had to be pushed along ascending the hill from two out, led over the last and then strode clear to contain Canty’s Cove by seven and a half lengths with the pair being the only finishers.
“My horses were sick a little while ago and they missed a month’s work,” disclosed O’Connor. He then added of the embryonic chaser Best Trump: “He’s still as green as grass and I was delighted with his performance.”
THE Jonathan Fogarty-trained Malayalam (5/2 - 3/1) continued rider Ross Sugrue’s purple patch by landing the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The French-bred Malayalam, having finished third on his previous start behind King’s Bucks in a vintage Ballindenisk contest in early December, made the best of his way home from after five out to defeat favourite Mymilkman by three lengths. Rich Tom, meanwhile, secured the minor honours, a further three and a half lengths adrift.
The Gaynestown Stud Partnership-owned Malayalam, a son of Masked Marvel that was purchased for £60,000 at the 2023 Goffs UK Spring store sale in Doncaster, will now be sold.
Horse to Follow
Rich Tom (D. G. Murphy): This home-bred son of Soldier Of Fortune, brought down two out on his debut at Ballindenisk in January, was beaten six and a half lengths into third spot by a pair of battle-hardened opponents in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. He should be very difficult to beat the next day.