Michael Duggan
ENDA Bolger’s newcomer Ballyoisin created a huge impression when running out a facile winner of the opening Canavans Of Belclare four-year-old maiden at last Sunday’s fixture at Belclare.
Derek O’Connor did the steering aboard this J. P. McManus-owned 1/3 favourite who hardly broke sweat as he eased to a five-length success over Denis Murphy’s Wexford raider Le Fou Royal.
Bolger, who trains the winner at his Bruree, Co Limerick base, reported: “This is a very exciting horse. We wanted to educate him before he went to the track and what he did today was just perfect. He’s a very slick jumper and the bit of nice ground here was ideal.
“I’ll have to discuss it with his connections about where he’ll appear next, but there’s no rush and that might even be it for him this season.”
O’Connor went on to complete a double when guiding John Neilan’s Dark Flame (7/4) to victory in the Flannerys Hotel adjacent hunts maiden.
This Thomas Connolly-owned son of Gold Well assumed command at the final fence before staying on doggedly on the run-in to defeat the 4/5 favourite Wind Of Hope by three-parts of a length.
Neilan, who is based not far from the track at Kilcolgan, divulged: “It’s always nice to have a winner at one of our local tracks and Derek gave him a brilliant ride. If he’s not sold, we’ll have a crack at a winners’ race.”
Clonmel owner-trained Tom Keating is enjoying a good run and his Strong Pursuit (7/2) impressed in the Ashford Castle & The Lodge at Ashford Castle five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Maxine O’Sullivan gave this Flemensfirth five-year-old a powerful ride when leading from the sixth fence to beat Timmy Hyde’s The Tailor Quigley by 15 lengths.
“This is a nice horse,” explained Keating. “I thought he’d have won only for falling first time out at Ballinaboola and is improving all the time. Maxine gave him a great drive. If he’s not sold in the interim, he’ll go to the Brightwells Sale at Cheltenham next month.”
ON THE MARK
Emly, Co Tipperary trainer Sean Hennessy was on the mark in the Gannons City Recovery & Recycling Services Ltd five and six-year-old mares’ maiden where his Raising Hope (5/1-7/1) scored under James Hannon.
Sent to the front three out, this mare by Turtle Island was always holding the effort of hot favourite Too Late For Kate with 15 lengths separating the pair at the finish line.
Hennessy trains the winner for her Mallow owner-breeder Nuala Crowley. He said: “We fancied her the last day at Bandon when she was fourth but the ground was just too soft for her there. It’s much more to her liking here and she showed what she can do. She is a smart mare and always works well at home. A mares’ winners’ race will be her next outing.”
FAVOURITE BACKERS
Favourite backers got it right in the concluding Westport Woods Hotel, Westport seven-year-old and upwards maiden where 5/4 shot Blackwood Rover registered an emphatic success.
Ridden by Kevin Power, this lightly-raced son of Turtle Island was always prominent before drawing clear to beat runner-up Weather Warning by five lengths.
“This fellow was unlucky when coming down at the last when leading at Askeaton and had slipped up at Nenagh before that. He was entitled to do what he did today,” stated the winner’s Borrisokane, Co Tipperary-based trainer Jimmy Finn. “I share ownership of him with Finian O’Toole who is a jockey based with Malcolm Jefferson in England. If he’s not sold, he’ll go for a winners’ race.”
Six went to post in the Glasan Crèche mares’ winners’ of two contest with victory going to the 5/4 favourite Ballyknock Hill.
Owned and trained at Boulta in east Cork by Padraig Higgins, Ballyknock Hill was sent to the front on the run to the final fence by jockey Larry Murphy and the daughter of Indian Danehill ran on strongly to beat that rival by two lengths.
Higgins divulged: “This is a good mare. She won well the last day at Killeagh and we fancied her coming here. A mares’ hunter’s chase at Cork over Easter will be her next port of call.”
Mum’s the word
WINNING owner Nuala Crowley missed seeing her Sean Hennessy-trained mare Raising Hope do the business in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden but her son Dan was on hand to represent her.
“Mum didn’t travel today as we said we’d let her enjoy Mother’s Day at home, but she’ll be delighted,” said the Ballyclough, Mallow native who was accompanied by his father Denis.
“We bred this mare as well and we’ve always had faith in her. She is named after a comedy series on TV and this is a real family success. Sean Hennessy has been a friend of ours for a long time and he has done a terrific job in training her. We hope she’ll prove good enough to go to the track eventually.”
The real deal
DEREK O’Connor was blown away by the performance of his mount, Ballyoisin, in the opener, a race named after three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate who took this particular event for the Costello family back in 1999.
“He is a very, very exciting horse, possibly as nice as I have ever ridden in a point-to-point,” said the 10-times champion jockey.
“We never even came out of second gear today and he has loads of speed. He has a brilliant style of jumping and I was really impressed. I had schooled him at Enda Bolger’s and knew he was good, but having ridden him today he looks the real deal.”
Horse to Follow
BALLYOISIN (E. Bolger): This fellow was the standout performer when making a winning debut in the opening four-year-old maiden. Came to this contest with a lofty reputation and delivered in style when easing to victory.