BARRY O’Neill enjoyed a profitable afternoon at the Westmeath fixture, taking riding honours with a treble on the card.
The Maria Kavanagh-owned Grady Hollow got the Wexford native off the mark in the opening division of the four-year-old maiden when recording a decisive six-length success over the only other finisher Monbeg Genius.
The son of Beat Hollow was progressing from an encouraging debut which saw him finish second to Holymacapony at Kirkistown back in early February. With the successful handler Colin Bowe absent, O’Neill commented: “This is a very smart horse, he loves soft ground. I think he stays well, but he showed some acceleration there from the back of the last. He will probably be sold now.”
Debutant Fire Love provided the four-time champion rider with his second winner of the afternoon, when battling gamely to overcome a strong challenge from Drumlees Pet in the mares’ maiden, with only half a length separating the pair of newcomers at the line.
The French-bred daughter of No Risk At All carried the colours of her handler Paul Nolan and his brother James was on hand to say: “We would have been scratching our heads if she had been beaten today, we think she is a good filly.
“Barry had ridden her a few times and thought a good bit of her. She is for sale now, hopefully to stay in the yard.”
David Christie and Barry O’Neill are certainly a combination to be reckoned with in the older horse divisions and the pair teamed up successfully in the winner-of-two contest here courtesy of Handy Headon. Having pulled up on his seasonal debut just eight days previously, the Ray Nicholas-owned eight-year-old certainly bounced back to form, sweeping through to fend off the attention of Diegos Way by a comfortable 10 lengths.
Handler David Christie stated: “We were disappointed last weekend, but I said to Barry to drop him out stone cold last today and it paid off. He will keep down this route now and we might aim for a maiden hunters chase later in the season.”
FORMER rider Richard Harding looks to have a smart sort on his hands in Broomfield Berg who recorded an impressive four-length win in the second division of the four-year-old maiden.
Sporting the colours of Ray Fitzgerald, the son of Sageburg benefitted from a patient Michael O’Sullivan ride before coming home an easy four lengths clear of Green Vault.
“He is a lovely horse, Derek O’Connor was looking forward to riding him but he got injured yesterday. Thankfully Michael gave him a great ride today. I will have a chat with Ray (Fitzgerald) but he will probably be sold now,” commented the handler.
The Sam Curling-trained Some Are Lucky recorded his eighth success in points when taking the novice riders’ open under his owner/rider Gerry Spain. Benefitting from a positive ride, the nine-year-old overcame a protracted battle with Samanntom, before staying on gamely to win by two and a half lengths. Peacocks Secret was left to pick up the pieces in behind, filling the runners-up berth under Shane Fenelon.
OUT Of Exile certainly appeared to relish the testing ground conditions presented when recording a front-running success in the five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden under Noel McParlan.
Getting off the mark at the fourth time of asking, the son of Mahler stayed on gamely in the closing stages to fend off the attentions of Sidewaysmilan by four lengths.
The five-year-old is owned and trained by the rider’s father, Sean McParlan who commented: “That was brilliant, he liked that ground and it suited him to go a gallop today. We have too many around our house at the minute so he is for sale now!”
Noel McParlan went on to enjoy a double on the afternoon courtesy of Le Pogues Storm in the concluding older maiden. Returning from a spell under rules, the Colin McBratney-trained six-year-old came from a long way back to throw down a strong challenge at the final fence where he was left clear by the departure of Sleve Donard.
This left Ashtown Paddy to come home 15 lengths adrift back in second. Afterward the winning rider said: “A couple of runs over hurdles sharpened him up and his jumping was very good today.”
The David McBratney-owned gelding will now likely remain between the flags for the foreseeable future.
Milestone for O’Neill
BARRY O’Neill reached a notable milestone when riding his 600th winner between the flags courtesy of Fire Love in the mares’ maiden.
The four-time champion rider becomes just the fourth jockey in history to reach this tally between the flags. Interestingly, the 31-year-old has also enjoyed quite a bit of success around this course, with his tally now standing at 19.
FULL credit must go to the Westmeath Hunt who hosted a very successful day’s racing in not only challenging times with Covid-19, but also very challenging weather conditions. Thankfully the hunt was rewarded with 85 runners on the afternoon, a best turnout in almost 10 years.
Horse to follow
Universal Dave (W. Ewing) This son of Universal ran well for a long way on what was his debut under Jordan Gainford. Having wound up the tempo from a long way out, he got quite tired in the closing stages before ultimately pulling up at the last. However, he showed enough promise here to suggest he could be competitive on a sounder surface.