THE Killinick Harriers held their spring meeting at a breezy Lingstown last Sunday last. The course features the only remaining banks course on the point-to-point fixture list, which ensures that the track always attracts a good crowd.

For the second year in succession, the open lightweight race, run over the iconic banks course had a prize fund of in excess of €3,000. The unique spectacle was the undoubted feature on the card. All 13 entries stood their ground to make this the largest field of the day.

The contest developed into, what was in the end essentially a private battle, with the eventual winner Stand Up And Fight (5/4 - 6/4 favourite), recording a six-length success in the hands of Derek O’Connor, over the longtime leader Better B Quick (5 - 6/1).

Having joined that rival at the final obstacle, the J.P. McManus-owned eight-year-old quickened clear on the run-in, to win with plenty in hand. The Enda Bolger-Trained, son of Flemensfirth, was recording his fourth career success here from 15 appearances.

Bolger said: “We’ve just been disappointed with him of late, his last two runs, so we decided to run him in a banks race, he seemed to really enjoy the track. It’s a lovely track and it’s a credit to the committee here (in Lingstown).” The winning handler added that, Stand Up And Fight, will now head to the Punchestown Festival for the La Touche Cup, over the banks course.

O’Connor completed the second leg of a double on the afternoon when he steered Black Samurai (2/1 - 5/2), to success in the concluding older geldings’ maiden, which was part of the INHSC bonus series.

The former champion, made all aboard the Sean Aherne-trained son of Black Sam Bellamy, extending his advantage near the line, to defeat Icy Inferno (5 - 4/1) by eight lengths. The six-year-old is owned by a big supporter of Aherne’s, Eoin Barry, from Boston, who was present to witness the eye-catching success.

The winning handler was registering his first success of the season: “He’s a lovely horse, he done his job nicely today,” and added that Black Samurai would now be aimed at a point-to-point bumper in Cork on Easter Monday, if the ground conditions were favourable.

Champion rider

Reigning champion rider, Barry O’Neill, continued his excellent season as the Wexford native recorded a treble on the card. O’Neill’s day began on a winning note as he teamed up with his boss Colin Bowe, who recorded a double on the card, to claim victory in the opening four-year-old maiden with Gerri Colombe (1/1 - 6/4 favourite ).

The €85,000 Derby Sale purchase, who was consigned by Peter Vaughan of Moanmore Stables, Callan Co Kilkenny, was always prominent under O’Neill and stayed on strongly up the run-in to deny Lakota Warrior (6/4 - 7/4), by a head at the line.

Bowe said that the Saddler Maker gelding was now likely to be offered at the Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale (Thursday) adding: “He’s a good tough horse, he has a nice pedigree. I think he’ll handle any ground, but he handles soft ground well, so he’s probably a winter horse.”

O’Neill recorded the second leg of his treble in the five-year-old mares’ contest, when partnering Brown Bullet (4/1) to success for absent handler Liam Kenny, who recorded an across-the-card double when also taking the opening race at Lismore.

The daughter of Arcadio was always prominent and quickened three lengths clear of Without Conviction (2 - 3/1) on the run-in. Absent handler Kenny was represented by Darragh Brennan, who stated: “She probably shouldn’t have ever have run as a four-year-old, she was big and weak, so we just gave her two runs as a four-year-old for some experience. We just decided we would wait until she was a five-year-old to run her again, so she could strengthen up. I think there could be a lot more to come from her.” The Gavan Kinch-owned mare will now be offered for sale.

O’Neill completed his treble, when once again combining with Colin Bowe, who recorded the concluding leg of his double here, to claim the five-year-old geldings’ maiden with Sunset West (6/4 - 2/1).

O’Neill made a decisive decision to take his mount to the front with just under a circuit to race and from that point the Westerner Gelding was never headed, recording a three-length success over Lostcityofgold (2/1 - 6/4 favourite).

For owner/breeder Maurice O’Brien, from Clonroche, Wexford, the five-year-olds victory has been a long time coming with O’Brien’s daughter Carmel Walsh explaining: “The horse is a homebred of my Dad’s (Maurice O’Brien). This winner has been 40 years in the making, it goes back to a mare that his dad had given to him. He has all the family at home.”

Winning handler Bowe added that the Westerner gelding, who had been placed on four occasions before his victory, is now for sale.

Pulsating

The winners of two contest produced another pulsating finish, with the Paul Cashman-trained Movethechains (3 - 5/1), narrowly denying favourite Mr Mantilla (5/2 - 2/1 favourite) in the shadows of the post, to score by a head at the death.

The Catharine Cashman-owned son of Robin Des Champs had two lengths to find on the eventual runner-up jumping the last, though he stayed on best on the run-in, under Michael O’Sullivan, to just get his head in front for the second time.

Winning handler Cashman was impressed: “He has a bit of class, he just had a few little problems and held up last year as a five-year-old. He beat a proper field today and looks like a proper staying chaser. He showed a good turn of foot too.” The gelding is now for sale.

News

Cheque presentation for handlers’ charity race

SEVERAL of the handlers who took part in the handlers’ charity race at the track back in November, were on hand to assist the hunt committee and race organiser Johnny Berry with making the presentation of a cheque for €15,942, to Cllr Frank Staples, founder of ASK, who accepted the cheque on behalf of ASK and Pieta House.

Hunt chairman Scott Mernagh said that all involved had been thinking of the late William Codd, who was a clerk of the course at Lingstown, which led to the idea of the charity handler’s race. Mernagh described the late Codd as “a great friend of everybody here”.

Horse to follow

Mr Mantilla (V. Devereux): This son of Publisher was bidding to record his third success on the bounce here and was narrowly denied in the shadows of the post, going down by just a head.

The five-year-old should have little difficulty getting his head in front again in a similar contest and could have a bright future on the track.