THE remarkable Winged Leader (4/7 - 4/6 favourite) edged ever closer towards the record number of wins for a point-to-pointer, when claiming a competitive renewal of the featured ladies’ open at last Sunday’s Stonehall Harriers meeting at Moig South.
With the record of 33 victories set by the late Helen Bryce Smyth’s Still William in the back of her mind, Maxine O’Sullivan produced the 10-year-old to challenge the returning Rocky’s Howya at the second-last and David Christie’s charge appeared to have plenty on his plate, as Declan Queally’s inmate forged clear again before the last.
However, Emily Cody’s mount blundered at that obstacle and handed the initiative back to Winged Leader, who fared best on the short run-in to carry the day by a length, with seasonal debutant Lonesome Boatman making a most-pleasing return to action to take third.
“We’re delighted, what he is doing is unbelievable. He probably isn’t as effective on that ground as he is on other ground, but he’s tough.
“It was a very good race, and for him to be able to give 5lb to the runner-up was a great effort,” reflected Christie of John Hegarty and Jennifer O’Kane’s now 26-time point-winner.
Northern raiders also struck in the opening four-year-old maiden, as the Warren Ewing-handled and owned Home Made Hero (5/2 - 7/2) confirmed the promise of his excellent debut second at Castlelands last March.
Never far off the lead under Declan Lavery, the €47,000 Goffs Arkle Sale purchase cruised past the leading St Lawrence’s Well on leaving the back straight for the final time and had little difficulty in containing the staying-on Kilnesare Flight by three and a half lengths.
“This horse ran very well on debut and my horses weren’t right when he ran later in the spring, but he showed his true colours there.
“He’s a very hard horse to get to the bottom of and he stayed on strongly in tough conditions,” outlined Ewing of Home Made Hero, who is due to come under the hammer at today’s Goffs Coral Gold Cup Sale at Newbury.
Dead-heat
A four-year-old auction maiden followed the opening contest and, here, the judge was ultimately unable to separate dead-heaters Rouban (7/4 - 5/2) and Tell The Tale (1/1 - 11/10 favourite).
In a tactical affair, the Luke Murphy-ridden and trained front-runner Rouban was always tracked by the Pa King-partnered Tell The Tale.
With the challenging Dontcavein unseating Eoghan Finegan at two out, the pair fought out a good battle up the straight with a final fence error from Rouban ultimately allowing Tell The Tale to join issue with the L and J partnership owned-son of Laverock on the line.
It is now likely that both, Tell The Tale, completing a weekend-treble for his handler Sam Curling and Rouban, a fine second in Ballingarry last season, will be sold.
ALSO on the mark at Lingstown, champion-handler Colin Bowe initiated an across-the-card brace, as Judicial Deference (5/2 - 9/2) took a notable step forward from his recent seasonal debut. Continuing the breakthrough season of rider Eoin Staples, the Jukebox Jury gelding came from off the pace to master the effort of favourite Howdoyalikeherhome before the last en route to a length success.
“This is a nice horse that has always been held in high regard, but like a lot of Colin’s, who were under the weather at the time, he lost his form last season. He was back to himself today though and his jumping was electric throughout,” said Staples of the Milestone Bloodstock-owned grey, who was third on the opening day of last season in Castletown.
The Simon Cavanagh-owned and trained Milan Forth (4/1) put himself in line for a tilt at a maiden hunters’ chase following his third triumph of the season in the winners’ of two, a contest confined to novice riders.
Ridden by regular partner Kevin Healy, the five-year-old took control of the 11-runner event racing down the back straight for the final time and, having been left clear by the second-last fence exit of Magic Sadler, overcame idling late-on to outpoint I Masked Du Potier by half a length.
“He’s really tough and takes his racing well. He gets lonely in front, but picked up again when the second horse came to him,” observed winning rider Healy, who rides out for Cavanagh and Seán Doyle.
Forceonmyown and Michael Kenneally win the five-year-old and upwards mares' maiden \ Healy Racing
THE Denis Ahern-handled Forceonmyown (2/1 - 6/1) proved a class apart from her four opponents in the five-year-old and upwards mares maiden, when registering a comprehensive eight-length triumph.
Given the office by Michael Kenneally to take over from the front-running Clashmore Banter with half a mile to race, the daughter of Workforce duly found another gear thereafter to readily brush aside Currish Lane in taking fashion.
“I bought this mare privately as a foal from her breeder, Darren Pratt. She had a lovely run last season and learned plenty from her run in a bumper in May.
“If she’s not sold, she’ll go for a bumper in Limerick over Christmas now,” said Ahern of last season’s Dromahane debut fourth Forceonmyown, who carries the silks of his wife Norah.
Horse to Follow
Kilnesare Flight (L. Young): This strapping, home-bred son of Malinas was supported into favouritism before his debut in the opening four-year-old maiden.
Although the dark bay was unable to get the better of Home Made Hero at the business end, his effort still suggested he should easily sample points success en route to a successful track career.