COMPETITION is always intense at Knockanard and the Harley Dunne-owned and trained State Of Power impressed by winning an eventful five-year-old geldings’ maiden, which had the biggest field of the afternoon in 14 runners.
State Of Power (9/2) was bounced out at the head of affairs by Tiernan Power Roche and he had Joy Of Life for company virtually throughout. There was little to separate the pair at the penultimate of the 14 obstacles and they were joined by Giovinco on the steep ascent from this second-last fence.
State Of Power led off the turn into the home straight before the last and he held an advantage of less than a length when Joy Of Life and Giovinco both fell independently at the last.
The winning son of Westerner was left well clear and he powered clear on the flat to beat Johnny Rose by all of 50 lengths, with a further two lengths back to Paidin Beag in third spot.
With Dunne at Punchestown, Roche reported: “He’s a big staying type that jumps for fun. He will go to the sales now.”
Captain shipshape
Colin Bowe, also on the mark with Willmount at Comea, completed an across-the-card double courtesy of newcomer Captain Teague in the four-year-old maiden over two and a half miles.
The giant-sized Captain Teague (5/2) disputed the lead literally from flag fall with another embryonic chasing type in Western General until he edged ahead on the climb from two out.
Captain Teague was well in command with Barry O’Neill when jumping out to his left at the final fence and he then swept further clear on the flat to contain the staying-on The Ballyline Man, trained by Marie Harding, by eight lengths.
Sam Curling’s Western General shaped with promise to return a further two and a half lengths adrift in third spot.
Bowe incidentally also won this same race in 2019 with none other than Ferny Hollow.
Rider O’Neill was sufficiently impressed with Captain Teague to comment: “He’s a horse that’s very smart and he does everything so professionally.”
TOM Keating emulated Colin Bowe’s achievements by sending out a winner apiece at both of Sunday’s meetings, Read To Return at Comea, and the owner/trainer was present to witness the success of Hattons Gardens in the six-year-old and upwards maiden for novice riders.
Hattons Gardens (5/1) came from well off the pace and, having did well to survive a notable third-last fence blunder, the recent Ballyvodock runner-up responded to rider Brian Dunleavy’s urgings on the approach to the last to overtake long-time leader Chitchat Sally on the flat.
He saw off the patiently-ridden Grey Market by four lengths. Chitchat Sally secured the minor honours, a further neck adrift.
Keating suggested that Hattons Gardens will now run in a winners’ race, provided that he’s not sold in the interim.
Perfect Storm
Chris O’Donovan was the leading rider as he was the only individual to depart the Fermoy venue with two winners and he opened his account aboard Declan Queally’s teak-tough 11-year-old Fenno’s Storm in the open.
Fenno’s Storm was in front from flagfall and, while having to be pushed along at various stages from half-way, the recent Carrigarostig runner-up led until briefly overtaken by Macs Legend after two out.
Fenno’s Storm was soon back in pole position holding a narrow advantage and he gamely fought off (4/1) Macs Legend as the line approached to oblige by a neck in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.
Fenno’s Storm, representing Maurice Walsh from Stradbally in Co Waterford, has won 10 points in addition to three races inside the rails with his handler’s son and namesake indicating that the September Storm-sired gelding will continue to ply his trade in opens.
More Glory
O’Donovan completed his brace aboard Michael Winters’ seasonal debutante Clounts Glory in the mares’ winners of one.
Odds-on shot Knockraha Katie gave way to Clounts Glory (4/1) over two out proach to the final fence as she ultimately accounted for Bankoncarlo by two and a half lengths.
The seven-year-old Clounts Glory, who forfeited her maiden tag at Dromahane in December 2020, is shared by brothers Dan and Billy Horgan from Rathmore.
Winters indicated that the daughter of Fame And Glory could possibly now contest another hunters chase.
PAUL Cashman acts as one of the clerks of course and he was understandably all smiles following the success of the one-eyed Present Fair, whom he trains for his mother Catherine, in the closing five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts maiden.
Present Fair (5/2), an encouraging fourth to the potentially high-class An Tobar at Ballyvodock, benefited from a well-judged front-running ride from James Murphy with the own-brother to Grade 2 mares’ bumper winner Darling Daughter crossing the line with three lengths to spare over Ciaran Fennessy’s newcomer Blooming Fortune.
The pair returned 15 lengths clear of the third-placed Jessmae.
Horse to follow
Joy Of Life (Seamus Neville): This eye-filling son of Libertarian came fifth on his debut behind An Tobar at Ballyvodock and he still held every chance in second when falling at the last in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. Compensation should be easily attained and he should also develop into a fine track prospect.