THE Colin Bowe-trained newcomer Brandy Love (7/4) created a very favourable impression at Saturday’s Cragmore meeting, run under the auspices of the Stonehall Harriers, by readily putting her male rivals to the sword in the two-and-a-half-mile four-year-old maiden.
The only filly in the six-runner field, Brandy Love mostly disputed the running with Just A Dime until going for home from three out. It was plainly apparent that the daughter of Jet Away was in control with a four-length advantage as the field turned into the home straight before two out.
The late May-foaled bay, a daughter of the blacktype-placed hurdler Bambootcha (by Saddler’s Hall), then powered clear for Barry O’Neill to dispose of Just A Dime by eight lengths in the style of an animal that we will surely be hearing a lot more about. Bowe said of the Milestone Racing Partnership-owned Brandy Love, a €15,000 graduate of the 2019 Goffs Land Rover Sale that’s already a sister to three winners: “She is smart and Barry [O’Neill] said that she would have gone around again.”
The meeting’s landowner John Costello supplied his 18-year-old son Conor, a first year business student at LIT, with a second career winner as the 123-rated former British track performer Heydour (3/1) made a winning points debut in the closing six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.
Heydour, who was placed five times over hurdles and fences for Mick Channon, always travelled well and he picked up the running after the fifth last of the 13 obstacles. The eventual winner was much faster than runner-up The Bonny Boy, trained by the elder Costello’s younger brother Tony, over the final two fences and this partly enabled him to deny the recent Carrigarostig third by two lengths with the pair the only finishers from the six runners that set out. Heydour is now owned by his handler’s mother Josephine, who was present at the meeting.
There was yet another family success in the open lightweight as 21-year-old Susie Doyle recorded the first success of the campaign aboard her father Pat’s Reigning Supreme (1/1). A former three-time track winner for Nicky Henderson, Reigning Supreme had to be briefly rousted along from five out as B L Swagger still held sway up front. The nine-year-old, placed on four starts this season, made his way past B L Swagger before two out to score by eight lengths in the colours of his handler’s wife Mary with a 20-length break back to the third-placed Straidnahanna.
Reigning Supreme, who started his career in points with Warren Ewing, will be kept pointing for the foreseeable future.
JOHNNY Barry is experiencing a sensational season and, fresh from his 150th points success aboard Arctic Skipper at Tallow the previous Sunday, the Conna native teamed up with 12-horse handler Shane Hassett to collect the five-year-old geldings’ maiden aboard newcomer Magnificent Ben (3/1).
Having always been positioned close to the pace on the outer, Magnificent Ben assumed command on the flat and the winning son of Sans Frontieres accounted for Bourbon Street by two lengths. Cocoroco, meanwhile, secured the minor honours, a further 10 lengths adrift. Magnificent Ben, a graduate of the 2018 Tattersalls August Sale, was incidentally providing his handler’s sister Kate Hassett with a first success as an owner.
The newcomer Ardera Ru (5/2) justified the trek from handler Eoin Doyle’s Mooncoin base in south Co Kilkenny by making a winning debut in the five-year-old mares’ maiden. Ardera Ru, representing her handler’s wife Gemma Murphy, always took the eye in running with Cathal Healy and she moved through to challenge for the lead after three out. Long-time leader Caletta Storm was back disputing the running, holding every chance, when falling two out and the victorious daughter of Fame And Glory was then left clear to beat Sunshine Beach by five lengths.
Ardera Ru will now more than likely be aimed for a bumper, according to Doyle’s representative Michael Butler.
Awesome Lady (2/1) attained due reward for her consistency, having finished second on three previous occasions, by landing the six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden under her handler Paul Power. The 11-year-old was always on the pace and she seemed to have a battle on her plate when overtaken by last month’s Dungarvan runner-up Peggy Gordon before two out.
However, the grey was back in front on the run to the last and she was in no mood to be denied on the flat, two and a half lengths separating her from Peggy Gordon. It’s possible that Awesome Lady, owned and bred by Ger Langan from Kilmacow, may now contest a maiden hurdle.
Horse To Follow
JUST A DIME (Joseph Ryan): An embryonic chasing type by Doyen, this fellow was always on the pace on his debut in the two-and-a-half-mile four-year-old maiden. While unable to cope with Brandy Love, he still emerged a clear second best and this close relation to last season’s Aintree Grade 1 novice chase winner Ornua should make his presence felt on the track with another season under his belt.
News
Praise for committee
THE Cragmore committee are to be wholeheartedly praised for not charging spectators on Saturday, a decision that was implemented after the meeting was postponed from the previous Sunday.
During racing, the meeting’s Chairman Eric Fitzsimons made a special presentation to Tom Costello for winning the Pat Smullen Legends Charity Race at Bellharbour almost two weeks previously.
Costello, champion points rider in 1982 and 1983, received a bottle of champagne and a copy of the Bellharbour page that appeared in The Irish Field on Saturday February 8th.
Lots to look forward to
SUSIE Doyle should experience a fine season with her open winner Reigning Supreme and the third year CIT marketing student has recently embarked on an internship with Tattersalls Ireland. She presently rides out during the week for both Gordon Elliot and Jim Dreaper.