COLIN Bowe was the handler to follow at the penultimate point-to-point in the northern region for the 2018/19 season, recording a treble on the second afternoon of the two-day fixture.
Spectators were treated to a thrilling finish in the opening four-year-old geldings’ maiden as the camera was needed to split the pair Battle Of Actium and Gondor.
Battle Of Actium (5/2 – 9/4 favourite) made much of the running and was joined by the Jamie Codd-partnered runner-up at the last as the pair of talented four-year-olds battled up the run in.
Purchased by Aidan O’Ryan at the Tattersalls Ireland May Store sale last year for €65,000 and carrying the colours of Gigginstown House Stud, the Fame And Glory gelding was given the verdict by the narrowest of margins under Barry O’Neill, from the Denis Murphy-trained Gondor, with the Donnchadh Doyle-trained Pasvolsky a further three and a half lengths back in third.
The Wexford-based handler commented: “He is a lovely horse, gained plenty of experience and is learning all the time. He has improved with each run and will head to the track now.”
TREBLE
The second leg of the Bowe and O’Neill treble came in the six-year-old geldings’ maiden as Rivers End (1/1 - 3/1) scored on his first outing for the champion handler.
The chesnut Watar gelding was held up in the early stages and crept into contention in the four runner contest down the back straight.
O’Neill’s mount challenged and led at the final fence and went on to record a six-length success from the Marshall Watson-trained newcomer Danjaman.
Of the Milestone Racing Partnership–owned gelding Bowe remarked afterwards: “This is his first run for me and we found a good opportunity for him. He handled the track well and the race was run to suit. He will run in a winners’ race next.”
IMPRESSIVE
A maiden winner at this venue last year, Cushinstown Finest (3/1 – 5/1) concluded the Bowe and O’Neill treble in fine fashion in the mares’ winners of three race.
Recent Oldcastle maiden winner Airgead Suas was sent off the even-money favourite for Paul Pierce and having made the running, the Gold Well mare was headed by Noel McParlan’s mount Clondaw Nell approaching the second last fence. However, Barry O’Neill soon took over before the straight to record a comfortable eight- length success in the colours of the Milestone Racing Partnership.
Winning handler Bowe indicated the daughter of Trans Island is likely to run in another winners’ event before the end of the season.
He also added: “She won around here last year and is a lightly-raced mare. She clearly likes the track and enjoyed the ease in the ground.”
Anseanachai Cliste (5/2 – 9/2) took the open race at Necarne back in 2016 on route to becoming the champion pointer and the Daire McConville-partnered gelding returned to form to record his second success at this venue.
This is the first time McConville scored on the Bach gelding as previous pointing success came under his brother Michael and Ciaran Fennessy.
The 11-year-old took over from Sambremont before the penultimate fence with Sizing Solution challenging when Jamie Codd’s mount was tight of room rounding the bend, allowing the McConville-partnered former Champion Pointer to come home with six lengths to spare.
The winning owner, rider and handler McConville remarked: “I’m delighted with that. He ran a great race at Taylorstown and did it well today. He could run again in another open before the end of the season as long as the ground stays like that.”
David Christie’s last success in the hunt race was when Maple Mons scored in 2016 and the local handler saddled the first two home on this occasion courtesy of Blue Markie (2/1 - 5/2).
The odds-on favourite Pyrios also trained by Christie, led throughout and looked the likely winner turning for home but Rob James’ mount Blue Markie responded well and stayed on gamely to lead close home and score by a length.
“He had some nice runs earlier in his career and the small field helped him today. We gave him an easy time after Loughbrickland so he’s really only been working again the last two weeks. We had him entered in the sales at Doncaster but he could run in a winners’ race next,” said the Derrylin-based handler.
Co Carlow handler Willie Murphy recorded his 10th winner of the season as Cloudybackwest (4/1 - 8/1) scored on his second outing between the flags for the Blue Diamond Syndicate.
In a dramatic conclusion to the final race of the two-day fixture, the Noel McParlan-ridden Drumlee Castle was leading at the penultimate fence when falling, leaving the initiative to Cloudybackwest who stayed on best under Stephen Connor to hold off the challenge of Benbulben Blue and Jamie Codd in the closing stages to record a two and a half-length victory.
The Westerner gelding was unsuccessful in 11 attempts under rules and fell on his pointing debut at Dromahane six-days earlier.
He is a half-brother to the Nicky Henderson-trained dual winner Fly Camp.
The handler’s wife Moira McElligott said: “He has loads of ability but his jumping has been an issue. My brother Eamon owns him so I’m delighted that he won.
“Stephen gave him a great ride as he knows him well and schooled him during the week. He could head to the sales or go for a winners’ race.”
HORSE TO FOLLOW:
CLARAGELLO (L. Doyle): Made an encouraging debut under Jimmy O’Rourke finishing fourth in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden. The son of Ballingarry made a notable error with a circuit to race and will have learned plenty from this experience. He should be noted next time.
IN previous years the two-day fixture at Irvinestown clashed with the Balmoral show but this season was run a week earlier avoiding the clash. The change of date did however mean that it clashed with a meeting on Friday evening at Downpatrick racecourse.
CUSHINSTOWN Finest provided Colin Bowe with his 40th winner of the season and the Kiltealy-based handler has already surpassed his best record of 34 winners last year. The last handler to train over 40 winners in one season was Robert Tyner in the 2008/09 season recording 47 winners.This tally looks within reach going by the current form of the champion handler.
BARRY O’Neill was presented with the leading rider prize sponsored by Killyhevlin Hotel, Health Club & Spa at Necarne notching up four winners on the scoreboard at the two-day fixture. The successful weekend brought the Wexford-based rider level on 15 winners with Jamie Codd in the race to be crowned northern region leading rider. Rob James and Noel McParlan have both partnered 14 winners in the region to ensure an exciting final days racing at Loughanmore today.