Susie Doyle

THE battles for both the riders’ and handlers’ season title races are beginning to get tight as we head into the latter end of the 2017/2018 season.

Barry O’Neill recorded two winners at Bellugran Park on Sunday, allowing him to hold onto his slight advantage to Jamie Codd (38-37), and Donnchadh Doyle edged further ahead in the handlers’ title with 21 winners to Colin Bowe’s and Pat Doyle’s 18.

The victory of Beyondapproach (4/6 favourite) in the opening Darver Castle four-year-old mares’ maiden was a notable one for racegoers attending the Louth Hunt point-to-point. Not only did the Donnchadh Doyle-trained winner post an impressive performance, but she also caught the eye in the paddock beforehand.

Last seen at Tinahely in February when second against geldings, the imposing daughter of Jeremy raced prominently throughout and was only challenged after the last but was never looked to be in danger under Barry O’Neill and recorded an easy two-length victory from the newcomer Gipsy Lee Rose.

Racing in the familiar Monbeg Syndicate colours, Beyondapproach was purchased by Paul Pierce for €35,000 at the Goffs Land Rover Sale last year and is out of an unraced half-sister to the two-time Grade 1 winner Won In The Dark.

“She’s a lovely big mare who did that very well. We have always liked her and she ran a great race against geldings in Tinahely. We always thought she had loads of ability and she showed that today,” remarked Andrew Pierce on behalf of winning handler Doyle, who was on duty elsewhere.

FIELD FIGURES

Vinnie Luck (8/11 favourite) provided Barry O’Neill with the concluding leg of his brace in the Total Produce open lightweight race. Owned by the Ray Nicholas’s Sporting Pointers Syndicate, the son of Scorpion was ridden patiently behind Drawn N Drank in the two-runner event but, turning for home before the final two fences, looked the likely winner.

O’Neill’s mount picked up from the back of the final fence to record a comfortable four-length success for the David Christie yard.

“We have been waiting for better ground as he has been running on ground he hates all winter,” said the winning handler.

“It is disappointing to see such little runners in these open contests as it provides unpredictable races. He will now go for another open and then maybe a hunter chase.”

Meath-based trainer Peter Flood was relieved to welcome Alright Marlene (4/1) into the winners’ enclosure after she took the College Proteins five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden having lost out in the previous race when Commanding Spirit was beaten by a neck.

The daughter of Stowaway raced prominently throughout in the hands of Mark O’Hare, got to the front after the penultimate fence from the James Lambe-trained Drumconnor Girl, and kept on best to score by one length, with Peterstown a further length and a half behind in third.

Alright Marlene was stepping up from her previous two runs, the latest being in Durrow just three weeks ago.

Peter Flood commented: “She seems to have been very unlucky in running in her previous two starts but she did that well today. We have always thought a lot of her and would have been disappointed if she didn’t win today. She will now go the sales.”

VICTORY

Another frontrunner to claim victory at the Co Louth venue was the Rodney Arthur-trained Hard To Forget (10/1) who scored in the Country Fresh five-year-old geldings’ maiden. The eye-catching bay gelding, who was bought by Ian Ferguson at the Tattersalls Ireland August Sale in 2016 for €17,500, made all in this eight-runner contest and opened up the race by adding some tempo down the back straight over the final half a mile.

Ridden by Larry O’Carroll, the son of Gold Well made amends for falling last time out in Kirkistown in March by recording a four-length success over the Colin Bowe-trained Robin Du Roi.

A delighted Rodney Arthur commented: “We have always thought a lot about this horse. Unfortunately he has just no luck in running on previous starts. He was given a lovely ride by Larry and stayed on well the whole way to the line.”

BY A NECK

Heather Kiernan and Timmy Love joined forces in the Sean Gallagher Lougher Stables winners of one when Cubanera (7/1) held off favourite Commanding Spirit by a neck. The Andrew Kiernan-owned mare, who won her maiden at Loughrea in October, raced in mid-division before joining long-time leader and eventual third School Lane after the penultimate fence and then going clear on the flat.

This was the winning rider’s fifth success between the flags this season. He is currently studying for his Leaving Certificate, which he’s due to take this summer.

“We are delighted,” reported the winning handler. She’s a great little mare and the track suited her today as she is only small. She also preferred the better ground and was given a lovely ride by Timmy.

She will now go for a winners of two or a mare’s winners’ race.”

The concluding race of the day, the Deeside Agri Services six-year-old and upwards geldings maiden for novice riders, went to the even money favourite Victory Gyp (1/1) in the hands of Paul Bannon, who was gaining his first winner of the season.

The Dermot McLoughlin-trained gelding went one better than on his previous run in Durrow three weeks earlier by taking up the lead just before the final fence and then quickening clear on the flat to score by six-lengths from the James Lambe-trained Drumconnor.

“He needed the run the last day out and has improved a huge amount since then. He will either go for a winners race or back to the track now,” reported Larry O’Carroll, who was representing the winning handler.

Well organised

CREDIT must be given to the committee of the County Louth Hunt on a well organised point-to-point at Bellurgan Park on Sunday. This meeting was originally due to take place the week before but had to be postponed due to ground conditions.

However, the committee did a wonderful job to have the track in great order for the rescheduled meeting. They also have to be commended on the unique feature of a MC in the parade ring which gave the spectators a great insight into the days racing.

It was a lovely family day out for all.