THE 30th anniversary of the Inch meeting took place under the auspices of the Killeagh Harriers at Ballyknock on Wednesday.
The fixture proved to be a memorable one for Colin Bowe and Barry O’Neill as the pair combined to record a sparkling hat-trick with Milestone Bloodstock Ltd-owned horses, the Kiltealy-based handler also most meritoriously saddling a one-two in all three races.
The newcomer Frost Moon (9/4 - 7/2 joint-favourite) got proceedings off to a terrific start for the duo in the four-year-old mares’ maiden, the race that attracted the biggest field of the afternoon in 13 runners.
Crystal Gold was the one responsible for the generous pace as the eventual winner was content to bide her time towards the rear of mid-division.
Frost Moon edged ever closer after the fourth-last of the 15 obstacles and the daughter of Wings Of Eagles was still making progress from two out. Whilst blundering here, she still moved through to lead on the flat to deny Push Push by a neck with three-parts of a length back to long-time leader Crystal Gold in third spot with the trio all newcomers. Annie Glory came home well to secure fourth spot in a race that a host of future winners are likely to emerge from.
“Barry [O’Neill] said that she slipped on a bend early on. She’s a good tough filly that’s also very scopey. I think that she has a nice future and she will now hopefully go to the Punchestown sale,” disclosed Bowe of Frost Moon, a €62,000 Derby sale graduate who is a half-sister to Grade 3-placed hurdler Lion In His Heart from the immediate family of dual Galway Plate winner Life Of A Lord.
The grey Speculateur (3/1 - 4/1) provided the Co Wexford combination with their second success in the second division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Speculateur, having pulled up on his debut at Daramona House, was always on the pace in this truly-run contest and he mostly led until overtaken by sweet-travelling favourite Pierrot after three out.
The market leader, however, ran wide on the bend before two out, but he was still leading and travelling well within the region of a length-advantage when falling here.
Powered clear
The son of No Risk At All was then left in front and he powered clear from the last to dismiss newcomer Robyn’s Jet by nine lengths with a further 15-length break back to Delusionofgrandeur in third.
“This fellow came out of France as a two-year-old and he will now be retained with a view to going to a trainer to run on the racetrack,” said Bowe of Speculateur, a half-brother to a French Grade 1-placed steeplechasing mare Kapkiline.
The previously twice-raced Detroit Maverick (4/1 - 5/1) completed the Bowe/O’Neill treble in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, a race that once again saw the second-last fence playing a crucial role.
Detroit Maverick, a respectable fourth on his previous start at Lingstown last month, made smooth progress off the pace on the inner on the final circuit and he moved second after the third-last.
The winning son of Flemensfirth had just moved through to dispute the running with Christy’s Chief when the latter ducked out just before the wings of two out.
Detroit Maverick, a mid-May foal whose dam is a half-sister to the dam of Willie Mullins’ former Grade 1 Cheltenham Festival bumper-winning heroine Relegate, then asserted from the last to beat Devilsrollthedice by three lengths.
Diamond has the sparking touch
MATT Gahan, a 19-year-old hailing from Boolavogue, wore the biggest smile of the afternoon following his third career success aboard the Mick Goff-trained five-year-old Passing Diamond (6/4 -2/1) in the winners of one.
Passing Diamond, having been beaten a short-head by King In The Park on his previous start at Taylorstown 11 days earlier, got into a lovely rhythm in this four-runner contest as Ebenezer Scrooge forced the pace with his only anxious moment coming when blundering at the ninth fence.
The son of Diamond Boy, a half-brother to Grade 2-winning hurdler Wouldn’t You Agree, out of a half-sister to former RSA Chase winner Trabolgan, eased to the front after three out en route to dismissing Ebenezer Scrooge by three lengths.
Handler Goff indicated that his wife Caitriona’s Passing Diamond could take up his engagement at next week’s Goresbridge sale.
Newcomer
On an excellent afternoon for the Wexford contingent, owner/trainer Matty Flynn O’Connor struck with newcomer Risky Obsession (5/2 - 7/2) in the first division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden. The No Risk At All-sired winner disputed the running virtually throughout on the inner for Brian Lawless with fellow debutant Stenza Razin until leading before the last.
A good jump here proved crucial for Risky Obsession, a €70,000 Goffs Arkle sale graduate who is a half-brother to USA listed-placed chaser in Ask Paddington, out of a half-sister to Grade 1 RSA Chase winner Cooldine, as he held on well in the closing stages to eclipse the fast-finishing Cool Customer by a head in the day’s closest finish. Flynn O’Connor suggested that Risky Obsession will now be prepared for sale.
Freya finding lots in her favour
DEAR Freya (3/1 - 9/2) vindicated the promise of her most recent third-placed effort at Lisronagh last month by collecting the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden under handler Alex Ott’s son Luke Burke-Ott.
Dear Freya and Prized Jet were left disputing the running on the fourth-last fence departure of one-time clear leader Strollaway.
There was then little to choose between the pair until the winning daughter of Sholokhov, an own-sister to dual points scorer Dear Ryta, surged clear after two out to dispose of Prized Jet by five and a half lengths in the colours of breeder Eamonn Grainger from Ballinhassig.
There was yet another family success in the five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts’ maiden as former handicap hurdler The Rebel County (2/1 - 5/2 favourite) vindicated the promise of his second-placed points debut at Dromahane 10 days earlier by coming home as he pleased in the hands of trainer Garrett Ahern’s son Josh Ahern.
The Rebel County, who finished fifth off a mark of 91 in a three-mile Down Royal handicap hurdle last August for Noel Meade, bounded clear after the second-last to beat Vodka Splash by 13 lengths.
Cool Customer (L. Kenny): A newcomer by Soldier Of Fortune, this half-brother to Fergal O’Brien’s smart mare Siog Geal came home strongly when beaten a head into second spot in the first division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
He appeals as a bumper type and should blossom into a track winner.