WEXFORD handler Donnchadh Doyle continued his fine run with his young stock this season when taking the opening four-year-old maiden with newcomer Fakir D’Alene (2/1- 6/4 favourite).
Obtaining a handy position throughout under Rob James in the strongly run contest, the Monbeg Syndicate-owned gelding led before the penultimate obstacle and with good jumping at this point the contest was effectively over as he soon went clear.
The Michael Goff-handled Oscer Romero was in second when falling at the last, which badly hampered and unseated the staying-on Ardhill, leaving the winner to come home 20 lengths clear of the Denis Murphy-trained newcomer Law School.
A £30,000 purchase out of the Goffs UK Spring Store Sale, this success gave the French sire Cokoriko his first winner in the pointing sphere.
The successful handler Doyle remarked: “They went a good gallop, which suited my horse and he stayed on well. He’s a lovely horse and should win plenty of races. He will go to the sales now.”
FIRST SUCCESS
It was a big day for Co Tyrone-based owner Willie Craig who saw his colours carried to success for the first time when Fyfin Patsy (2/1 – 1/1 favourite) took the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.
The consistent daughter of September Storm was placed on her previous two outings and gained her due reward here.
The Mervyn Torrens’ trained mare was produced by Noel McParlan to join Frilly Frock, who made much of the running under Barry O’Neill, as the pair jumped the last in unison.
Following a thrilling finish, a photo finish was called with Fyfin Patsy awarded the race by a short-head with a further 10 lengths back to the third, Deo Bellator.
The winning northern handler commented: “She has plenty of ability but she has just been unlucky, with things not going right for her. Noel was really strong at the finish and she got there on the line. She is entered for the Doncaster sales but it’s up to the owner what he wants to do with her. I’m delighted for Willie as this is the first horse he has in training.”
Royal Drumlee (7/4 – 5/4) returned a very impressive winner in the concluding two-winner race under Noel McParlan, providing the former northern champion with a brace on the day.
Rudy Catrail went off at a blistering pace from the start and held a 20-length lead at the halfway point.
A mistake five from home allowed the chasing pack led by the favourite Lough Derg Lyric to reduce the advantage and join the leader three from home.
PENULTIMATE FENCE
McParlan sent the Royal Anthem gelding to the front before the penultimate fence and soon the pair were clear as they recorded an eight-length success from the favourite.
The winning handler Sean McParlan said: “He did that very well today and he could run in the winners of three at Necarne next week. He’s a lovely horse and he is for sale.”
Colin McKeever and Wilson Dennison enjoyed a double, with Mikey Sweeney in the plate this time as usual jockey Derek O’Connor was on duty at Punchestown, opening their account in the five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden with the previously placed Eskylane (4/1 - 5/1).
Taking up the running from Openthebackdoor three from home, the Flemensfirth gelding quickly opened up and recorded a five-length success from the staying on Jeremy Sunshine.
Out of the bumper winner Maple Lady, who is a half-sister to graded winners Cane Brake and Judge Roy Bean, the improving gelding looks one to note for further success on the track.
The winning handler commented: “My horses were out of sorts earlier in the Spring but thankfully they seem to have turned a corner in recent weeks. He’s a lovely big Flemensfirth horse, he’s over 17hh and he was weak all along. He seemed to need his run the last day when he was third. We were coming here confident today and he won well. He is entered at the Doncaster sales.”
Broomhill (3/1 – 7/4) brought up the quick double 30 minutes later for Dennison, McKeever and Sweeney when running out a convincing winner of the five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunt maiden.
Second six days earlier at Fairyhouse, the son of Yeats justified that promise to run out a comfortable winner.
Leading for much of the contest, the five-year-old was clear when making a bad mistake with over a circuit to race with Sweeney holding tight to recover and guide the Wilson Dennison-owned gelding to a 15-length success.
The well-supported favourite Goodnight Johnboy was eight lengths behind in second before blundering and unseating Noel McParlan at the third last.
The winning Templepatrick handler remarked of Broomhill, who is out of dual winner Rocking Annie: “He’s another big horse and has taken a bit of time to come into himself but he’s a lovely horse and he will keep improving. He will head to the sales now.”
Longhouse Music recorded her ninth victory of the season in the mares’ open by way of a walk over under Barry O’Neill, joining Kruzhlinin in the lead for champion pointer honours. The daughter of Gamut was the only declared runner of the five entries and simply had to canter past the judge to win.
The winning handler Sam Curling commented: “The lack of runners is unfortunate but she will run again tomorrow now in Dromahane,” (see adjacent report). “There are a few mares’ opens in the coming weeks also.”
Sweeney double
MIKEY Sweeney went viral for his heroics on Ask Heather in January and the Waterford native has been riding north of the border more frequently in recent weeks and was rewarded with his first winners in the region here.
The 20-year-old was seen to good effect on the Colin McKeever-trained pair Eskylane and Broomhill recorded a double at the Co Antrim track.
Northern title
JAMIE Codd was in attendance at the northern fixture however due to a suspension this gave his pursuers the chance to close the gap in the northern region title race.
A double for Noel McParlan and wins for Barry O’Neill and Rob James ensured there is plenty to play for in the race to become northern champion.
The standings going into the penultimate weekend sees Jamie Codd (14 wins), Noel McParlan (13), Rob James (12) and Barry O’Neill (11).
Great atmosphere
THE Mid-Antrim Hunt were rewarded with a large crowd in attendance last Saturday.
The meeting was run at Loughanmore last season and returned to Broughshane by kind permission of the McBurney family.
There was a great atmosphere with a bouncy castle and slide to keep children entertained and the bar tent was very popular with the local racegoers.
HORSE TO FOLLOW:
FRILLY FROCK (C. Bowe): The daughter of Mahler returned to form here and failed by the narrowest of margins. A repeat performance over the coming weeks should see the five-year-old lose her maiden tag.