Margie McLoone

THE pedigree of Burning Ambition was well-documented in this column of December 9th following his success, on his debut in open company, at Moira the previous Saturday.

We then concentrated on the horse’s family, and spoke to his delighted Co Meath-based breeder Peter Byrne. The horse continues to reward connections and gave his trainer, Pierce Power, and rider, Rob James, their first track success when landing the hunters’ chase at Limerick on Wednesday.

The 2011 Scorpion gelding was bringing up a five-timer when justifying odds of 4/6 at the Patrickswell track, the bay’s only defeat coming when he was beaten two lengths into second on his debut in a six-year-old geldings’ maiden at Ballinaboola in early February last year.

On all his outings between the flags, Burning Ambition ran in the colours of the trainer’s sister-in-law Alexandria Gardner but, on Wednesday, when making his racecourse debut, he had a quartet of owners.

Speaking to irishracing.com, Power said: “Everything we’ve asked him to do this year, he’s done. We said we’d come here instead of Down Royal (on the 26th) as it was a maiden. The dream is Cheltenham and he is now qualified but he’ll have to get another run because he lacks experience going over there.

“He could run in the newly-arranged Punchestown hunters’ chase next or else the winners’ race at Thurles, but that is in three weeks’ time so he might go to Punchestown instead. If we’re still in one piece, he’ll rock on to Cheltenham then.

“My sister-in-law Alexandria Gardner originally owned him then the lads (Ed Tynan, Kieran MacLennan, Paul Shanahan and J.P. Magnier) got involved and fair play to them, they left me do my own thing with him and have given him plenty of time.”

Congrats to Jonjo and Reah

THE Irish Field would like to offer its congratulations and best wishes to Jonjo Bright and Reah Magee who announced their engagement on Christmas Eve.

The pair have lived within 10 minutes of one another all their lives and met through the East Antrim Branch of The Pony Club and other horse-related activities. They have been ‘an item’ for nine years and have come through some very tough times together.

Reah prepared for the big announcement by attending the previous day’s EAH’s children’s meet on a new Connemara that she has just broken.