Neil O’Donnell

LAST Sunday’s annual Kildorrery meeting, run under the auspices of the Duhallow Foxhounds at its long-standing Rockmills Stud venue, is one that will live long in the memory of 17-year-old Cal Shine from Banteer.

He experienced a remarkable start to his race riding career by making his first mount a winning one aboard All On Blue in the Bluegrass Horse Feeds & MunsterVanCentre.ie five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts maiden for novice riders.

The Louis Archdeacon-trained All On Blue (6/1), who previously finished a creditable fifth in five-year-old maidens at Boulta and Aghabullogue last month, travelled in mid-division until receiving a timely breather after the fifth last of the 15 obstacles.

The uneasy market-leader Troll D’Oudairies had by now made his way to the head of affairs except that he then unseated four out. The son of Rajj (by Danehill), stormed to the front on the flat and he asserted inside the final 50 yards to beat Honest To Goodness by three lengths, with the pair returning 12 lengths clear of the third-placed newcomer Seeyouallinchasers.

Archdeacon indicated that his wife Michelle’s All On Blue, a gelding that stands some 17hh, will now be primed for a winners’ race. The handler also disclosed that teenager Shine, a graduate of the pony racing sphere, only received his licence the previous Sunday. The stylish Shine is a fifth year student at Kanturk Technical College and he is also a keen hurler and badminton player.

Declan Queally is in the midst of a purple patch at present and he dominated the remainder of the meeting by partnering two winners, both of whom he also handles.

Minella For Value, owned by Queally’s mother Bernie, instigated his brace by easily justifying favouritism in the John McSweeney Livestock Haulier & Amber Oil open lightweight.

Minella For Value (4/6) disputed the running practically from the outset until Quarry Rua, victorious in the winners’ race here 12 months ago, went for home before four out.

Quarry Rua’s effort was to be a short-lived one as the 11-year-old Minella For Value led away from this fourth last fence and went clear in literally a matter of strides on the run to three out.

Truckin All Night was soon in pursuit and, to his credit, closed on the descent to the final fence. Minella For Value was always in command, however, and he duly defeated Truckin All Night by three lengths with veteran Glenwood Knight posting a pleasing effort by returning a further 12 lengths adrift in third spot.

Queally indicated that Minella For Value, who recorded facile successes at Aghabullogue and Dungarvan last month, will now be freshened up with a view to contesting the Cheltenham Foxhunters on St Patrick’s Day.

The well-supported Fenno’s Storm completed the Cappagh-based handler/rider’s brace by recording a valiant front-running success in the AIB and Crossmore Tyres Recycling winners of two, much to the dismay of the 13 bookmakers present.

A former hurdler who was impressive when landing the Dungarvan confined hunt maiden last month, Fenno’s Storm (2/1-5/4) similarly benefited from front running tactics. He set sail for home after five out and, having fought off Just Sorted from three out, he had the mare Back To Basics to contend with on the inner from the second last.

The successful son of September Storm, sporting the silks of Maurice Walsh (a cousin of the winning rider) from Stradbally, wasn’t for passing and he asserted in game fashion on the flat to eclipse this season’s dual scorer Pocket Talk by two lengths.

Fenno’s Storm, originally bought by Ciaran Fennessy as a three-year-old, may now be sold and the strapping six-year-old should really come into his own when launched over fences.

West Cork Golan, having an initial start for former Cork All-Ireland winning footballer Paul O’Flynn, proved to be the easiest winner of the day when hardly breaking sweat on his return to the fray in the closing Dairygold and Rathbarry Stud six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

West Cork Golan (7/2), having indicated promise on his five starts last term most notably when finishing third at Ballynoe in April, always travelled well and he was sent to the head of affairs by Eoin O’Brien with four fences remaining.

The son of Golan was always well in command thereafter and, although blundering when well clear at the final fence, he still beat Shredder Island by an eased-down 12 lengths. West Cork Golan, representing the eight-member Fernhill Tower Syndicate from Clonakilty, will now be primed for a tilt at a winner’s race.

The Marie Harding-trained Momella vindicated the promise of her fourth-placed debut effort behind Bloodstream at Boulta on New Year’s Day by landing the Gain Horse Feeds & Rockmills Furnishings five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.

Momella (6/1-5/1) was always positioned at the head of affairs with Pat Collins and she had Gortnagirl as her closest pursuer throughout. The winning five-year-old was containing Gortnagirl on the run to the final fence and, although The Last Armada went second from the last, the Aghabullogue runner-up was still two and a half-length adrift at the line.

The Sholokhov-sired Momella, owned by Joe Hernon of Castlehyde Stud, is now likely to be sold.

Competition was quite intense in the Hanleys Butchers, Mitchelstown five-year-old geldings’ maiden and the John Flavin-trained Mickey Shea stepped up from his third-placed Tallow effort two weeks earlier by recording a game success in the hands of talented 5lb claiming amateur Niall Redmond from Tullow.

Mickey Shea (6/1) went second behind long-time leader Fort Montagu on the approach to four out. Runner-up Must Havea Flutter moved through to almost challenge two out, but having been outjumped here, he was always marginally coming off second best thereafter and was duly beaten three lengths into second spot.

Mickey Shea, carrying the colours of Flavin’s Tramore-based father Pat, is now likely to be sold. It’s worth recalling that the Flavin father and son team also started off the smart Jury Duty, winner of the Grade B Proudstown Handicap Hurdle for Gordon Elliot at Navan this past November, in points two years ago.

Momella makes it merry for Marie

AT Knockanard the previous Sunday, the track’s clerk of the course Paul Cashman won the adjacent hunts maiden with The Dubai Way. Similarly, the Kildorrery secretary Marie Harding had a queue of well-wishers after her charge Momella won the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden. Marie, sister of jockey Brian and amateur rider Richie, also sent out Keep Back to capture the winners of two at the 2015 Kildorrery fixture.