THERE was a fabulous atmosphere at Sunday’s Castletown-
Geoghegan meeting, hosted by the Westmeath Foxhounds, and the fixture’s honorary secretary Heather Kiernan was all smiles following the success of her charge The Guinea Hunter in the closing six-year-old and upwards maiden.
The Guinea Hunter (4/1), an excellent second to West Of Carrig at Lisronagh in November 2022 and returning from in excess of a 22-month sabbatical, was sent to the front by local rider Tom Geoghegan at the ninth of the 15 fences and he led until overtaken five out by the mare Jollie Cosmos.
The winning son of Jet Away, owned by Mark Davies who sponsored the five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden through Edgemount Farm Racing, made his way back to the head of affairs approaching two out.
The victorious seven-year-old powered clear after this penultimate obstacle to account for Jollie Cosmos by 16 lengths whilst there was a further nine lengths back to the only other finisher Mister Romantic.
Ms Kiernan remarked: “This horse had a great run in Lisronagh almost two years ago, but he picked up a slight injury on his next start in Turtulla. He’s only back in about three and a half months and it was great to have him ready first time out.”
Local connections
There was another winner with a local Westmeath connection as 25-year-old Andrew Kennedy from Glasson recorded a second career success aboard his aunt Liz Kennedy’s homebred Je Suis in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.
The Aidan Fitzgerald-trained Je Suis (5/1), who finished second at Stradbally last May, was always positioned close to the pace and moved past Ceis Charraigin into pole position at the third-last.
Whilst coming under pressure on the long run to the final fence, Je Suis stuck gamely to her task to repel Always Groovin by three and a half lengths.
Handler Fitzgerald reported: “I’m delighted for Andrew [Kennedy] who works with me. I’m not exactly sure of the plan for Je Suis, but she’s a lovely mare that there’s further improvement in and she will win on the track.”
Clear form-choice
Pat Doyle, who was at Tipperary supervising his runner Shadows Of My Mind, missed the victory of his charge Trasna Na Pairce (5/2 joint-favourite) in the five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Trasna Na Pairce, the clear form-choice considering that he finished second on two of his three starts last season, gave his supporters an early scare by making a notable fourth-fence blunder.
The winning son of Walk In The Park was soon back disputing the running and he edged into an outright advantage under Pa King with four fences remaining.
Although overtaken by Lanesborough two out, Trasna Na Pairce re-assumed command well before the final fence and he duly defeated Lanesborough by six and a half lengths in the colours of joint-owners Mrs Geraldine Magnier and Mrs Veronica Sherwood.
THE Derek O’Connor-trained Ksar D’Oudairies (3/1) indicated that a bright track career awaits by recording a scintillating debut success with Eoin Mahon in the first division of the four-year-old maiden.
Ksar D’Oudairies, the only newcomer in the eight-runner field, made a few minor jumping errors early doors but a fast leap at the third-last effortlessly moved him closer as favourite Kamikaz Du Plessis still held sway up front.
Stormed clear
The winning son of Castle Du Berlais, acquired by Anna Calder for €58,000 at the 2023 Goffs Arkle Sale, picked up the running approaching two out and stormed clear on the descent to the last to dismiss the favourite by 12 lengths in the silks of the Leamore Horses Partnership.
“He is a most likeable horse that jumps and stays well. Anna Calder got injured in the spring and she asked me to take this fellow and another horse,” said O’Connor before travelling to Tipperary to ride in the bumper where he finished eighth aboard the Hilary McLoughlin-trained Cool Summer.
Glorious comeback
Colin Bowe and Rob James teamed up to collect the second division of this same contest with Bonapartes Retreat (3/1).
Having pulled up on his solitary outing last term behind Classical Creek at Tattersalls in late April, Bonapartes Retreat disputed the running with Kerboissy and he gave a polished round of fencing at the head of affairs.
The winning son of Sholokhov edged into a slender advantage from six out and possessed all the aces on the run to the final fence.
The victorious chesnut threw a breathtaking leap here and the close relation to a pair of graded winners in Cross Kenon and Sumos Novios duly accounted for Honesty Policy by two and a half lengths.
Bowe indicated that the Milestone Bloodstock Ltd-owned Bonapartes Retreat, a €45,000 Derby sale graduate, is now likely to be sold.
THE David Christie-trained Au Fleuron (5/4 favourite) became the only outright winning favourite benefiting from a fine ride from Josh Williamson to land the novice riders’ open.
Au Fleuron, a former 132-rated hurdler for Gordon Elliott who made an immediate impact in points last season by winning three opens, had to be pushed along at the third-last.
The winning seven-year-old, shared by Ray Nicholas with Dr Sam Campbell, however picked up the running on take-off at the last to beat Sean Queally’s mount Pat Coyne by three lengths.
Christie experienced his own ‘Super Sunday’ as he also struck with Jack Holiday in a handicap chase at Killarney.
Sean Doyle’s Willitgoahead (3/1 - 4/1), a maiden victor at Ballinaboola in February, had little more than an exercise canter under Jamie Scallan in the winners of two. The six-year-old Willitgoahead, owned by the Monbeg Partnership, struck the front three out to come home by nine lengths from Haggard.
Horse to Follow
Honesty Policy (P. M. J. Doyle): A Derby sale graduate that’s a half-brother to four-time British track winner Cuthbert Dibble, this newcomer by Jukebox Jury always took the eye in the second division of the four-year-old maiden. Duly beaten two and a half lengths into second spot by Bonapartes Retreat, he should easily go one better over the coming weeks en-route to sampling track success.