THE opening day of the traditional two-day season end meet at the Ormond Foxhounds’ fixture saw Barry O’Neill extend his slender advantage at the fore of The Irish Field leading riders’ title with a treble on the card.
With Jamie Codd opting to go to Kinsale on Sunday, O’Neill was able to dominate the day at the Tipperary venue, where his most memorable win was recorded aboard the champion point-to-point mare Maple Mons (4/5-4/7 favourite), who was enjoying her second success of the weekend in the Glue Pot Mares’ Open.
The pair had won the mares’ open at Kinsale less than 24 hours earlier and she produced yet another flawless display. Recent Dawstown winner Castlewhite set much of the early pace, stalked all the while by the nine-year-old daughter of Great Exhibition, who took up the lead approaching the final fence to win by a comfortable five lengths.
The David and Aaron Charles-owned mare has won 15 point-to-points and will go to the paddocks. An emotional David Christie said: “She had eaten up this morning so we decided to run her again today.
“She has been an incredible mare and that will be her last run in point-to-points today as she is going to be covered by Mount Nelson. I will give her a small break and hopefully find a blacktype mares’ race for her over the summer.”
O’Neill’s opening winner of the day was recorded aboard the consistent Sunrise Lady (6/4-5/2) in the Tom Toohey & Sons and Alan King Agri Sales five-year-old mares’ maiden.
Second on her most recent two starts, the daughter of Scorpion made it a pillar-to-post victory having been strongly challenged by the patiently ridden Currig’s Girl on the run to the final fence.
The Conor O ’Dwyer-trained mare quickened clear from the final fence to win by an eased down six lengths over the staying-on Kilnesare Kate.
A first point-to-point winner this season for her handler, it was also a first success for Kildare-based owner Hugo Kane who was on hand to welcome back his winner.
“I am delighted for her owner Hugo Kane, as that is his first winner in his own colours,” reported the winning trainer. “I bought her from John Berry and she has plenty of ability. Barry gave her a lovely ride as she likes to be ridden from the front.”
O’Neill did not have to wait long to get another important winner on the board when he steered the Joseph O’Brien-trained Boston Spray (6/4-7/4 favourite) to victory in the Foremans five-year-old geldings’ maiden in what was O’Brien’s third winner of the day following an opening double at Kilbeggan.
A close third at Bartlemy in May, the son of Presenting who was led out unsold at €92,000 at the 2015 Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale, was ridden on the heels of the leaders throughout before progressing to lead at the last, from where he recorded a two and a half-length success over Three Loud Knocks.
A first winner for his dam Coonagh Cross, who won a mares’ bumper at Limerick for Eoghan O’Grady, he is owned by Maynooth-based Martin Donovan.
O’Brien’s representative Damien Burns reported: “He did that well and will probably get a break now. That is Martin’s first horse with Joseph and it’s great to get the win for him.”
BOWE WINNER
It could so easily have been a four-timer for Barry O’Neill, as he was travelling well in the Tattersalls Ireland four-year-old mares’ maiden aboard Sheila Tanist before coming to grief at the third last, which cleared the path for the Colin Bowe-trained Western Perk (5/2-3/1) to come through.
Supplying Shane O’Rourke with his third winner this season, the Milestone Racing Partnership-owned Westerner mare, who is out of a half-sister to the Charles Byrne-trained Alpha Royale, quickened clear on the run to the home straight to return a distance clear of Queenstown Breeze.
“Her experience paid off today as she ran a nice race the last day. I bought her privately from her breeder and she is for sale now,” reported Bowe.
It was a memorable day for 20-year-old rider Daniel Holden who enjoyed his first success in point-to-points aboard the locally trained Loch Luatha (6/1) in the Eamon Murphy & Sons and Zurich Insurances seven-year-old maiden.
A track recruit with placed form in the book, the son of Mohaajir gained his due reward having ran a little disappointing on some occasions this spring.
Trained in Templemore by Leslie Young, who also bred the gelding, he was carrying the colours of Moate-based publican William Allen and was produced to lead before the final fence to hold off the strong challenge from the Heather Kiernan-trained Cubanera by two lengths.
A return over hurdles is likely next on the agenda for the winner.
Charleville-based Denis Leahy enjoyed a successful 24 hours as, having sent Pinks to victory in the mares’ maiden at Kinsale on Saturday evening, he followed that up when Arthropod (2/1-7/2) took the Rock Financial winner of one. The eight-year-old was providing his sire Scorpion with his second winner of the day and had not run since his second-placed effort at Rathcannon in October.
Ridden prominently throughout by the western champion rider Derek O’Connor, the Nigel Collison-owned gelding was left in front at the second last when the strong travelling Inaminna came to grief, allowing him to return two lengths clear of Checker Hill, who was, incidentally, trained by Leahy’s father-in-law.
A delighted winning handler, who has a 40% strike rate this year,commented: “I am delighted for his owner who is from Kent in England who was unable to be here today to see him run. The horses have been running well this season and I have a couple in to run over the summer.”
Superb Mons
MAPLE Mons has earned the title as one of the best point-to-point mares of the last decade. She has won three hunter chases and 15 point-to-points at 12 different tracks, which include two wins at Loughanmore, Necarne and Lisronagh and a further 18 placed efforts.
Holden wins
IT was a red-letter day for Daniel Holden who enjoyed his first point-to-point winner aboard the Leslie Young-trained Loch Luatha, for whom Holden rides work. The 20-year-old is based with Henry de Bromhead and hopes to continue point-to-pointing next season.