REIGNING champion point-to-point rider Barry O’Neill rounded off another successful weekend having ridden doubles at both Kirkistown and Turtulla.
The Wexford native’s first winner of the afternoon at Turtulla came aboard the Donnchadh Doyle-handled Sonru (2-7/4) who took the five-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden by an impressive 25 lengths.
The son of Jeremy had shown form previously when finishing behind Enjoy D’Allen at Tinahely last month.
It was a good day for the Wexford handler who was also on the mark at Belclare and Lingstown when winning both four-year-old maidens with Farouk D’Alene and Bravemansgame respectively.
There were jubilant celebrations in the parade ring as owner Michael ‘Mouse’ Murphy was on hand to lead back in his winner. Murphy, who is from Kilmyshall in Wexford, is an old family friend of Doyle’s.
GREAT KICK
An elated handler said afterwards: “I am delighted to train a winner for Michael, he will have got a great kick out of that. He gets a little excited! He has stepped up well from his last run at Tinahely and has shown us plenty of improvement. He will probably go to the sales next.”
O’Neill extended his lead in the championship when guiding home the Maurice Mariga-owned Cool Dove (6/4 joint favourite) in the concluding mares’ winners of one contest.
The daughter of Flemensfirth was bred by her owner, and he remarked that he has a full-sister going to this year’s Derby Sale.
The Colin Bowe-handled mare made smooth progress to lead approaching the second-last, and in a matter of strides had pulled clear of the field to score by a comfortable 12 lengths.
“It’s great for Maurice, a Youghal man who also bred her. She is a good mare who is improving all of the time. We will keep her pointing for the remainder of the season, but only if the ground remains safe.
“That’s the route we have taken with many of our good mares in the past, such as Askanna,” stated Bowe.
Wexford handler Denis Murphy produced an exciting sort in the form of Hold That Taught (3-6/1) who ran out a 10-length winner of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The son of Kayf Tara recovered well from a mistake at the fourth-last and found plenty in the straight in the hands of Simon Cavanagh. He was purchased at the Derby Sale for €70,000 by Gearoid Costelloe.
The winning rider said afterwards: “He has always been a decent sort at home. Denis wanted to bring him here as it’s nice galloping track. I thought we were nearly gone at the fourth-last but he recovered well. He kept finding plenty in the straight and I think he is a very good horse.”
LOCAL SUCCESS
It was a local success in the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden, as the Sam Curling-handled River Tyne (3/1) came home in front in the hands of Pa King.
The dynamic of the race changed at the third-last, when the long-time leader Hurlers Daughter and Roger Quinlan came to grief.
The daughter of Geordieland, who was lying in third at the time, came through to lead at the second-last, and kept on gamely to deny the Donnchadh Doyle-handled Lady Tremaine by a length and a half.
A delighted Sam Curling stated afterwards: “We bought her as a foal at Doncaster and have always thought a lot of her. She is owned by the lads in the yard so it was great to see her win. She will head to one of the sales now.”
It was a weekend to remember for handler Shane Hassett who saddled his second career winner having only recorded his first winner on the previous afternoon at Kirkistown.
Kiosk Keith (3-4/1) supplied the Tipperary handler with his second winner when landing the five-year-old and upwards confined maiden.
The son of Scorpion was guided to victory by John Barry who was carrying the colours of Hassett’s partner Jane Davis.
The gelding appeared to be travelling well before being left clear at the third-last when market principal Scardura came down at the third-last fence.
Hassett’s first career winner came courtesy of Dontgetfooledagain who took the six-year-old and upwards geldings maiden at Kirkistown.
A delighted Hassett stated afterwards: “All of our horses have been sick for the last few months and are only just coming right now.
“He is a grand horse who did it well today and has shown plenty of improvement. I am delighted for John O’Leary from Cork who owns a half-share in him with ourselves. It was his first winner.”
Not only was Gerry Kelleher on duty in his guise as a bookmaker on the day, the Cork native also saddled a winner when Mafitz’s Madonna (5/2 joint-favourite) took the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden for novice riders.
The former track performer was getting off the mark at the 12th time of asking, having been placed on her last two starts. The bay had no problem accounting for the eventual runner-up Fired Earth by six lengths having been given a positive ride.
This was a very important success for jockey Michael O’Sullivan in his bid to be champion novice rider, as the 19-year-old goes a winner clear of closest pursuer, with nine winners on board for the season.
Owned by Larry Buckley and Jackie Beirne, the daughter of Milan is now likely to contest a winners’ race, although a return to the track proper is not out of the question.
HORSES TO FOLLOW
BALLYDONAGH BOY (G. Lawless): Making his debut, he was unfortunate to come up against Donnchadh Doyle’s experienced Sonru. The son of Le Fou showed plenty to like when staying on well close home and looks one to follow for the next day.
Pat Doyle pots
the Black
PAT Doyle left Turtulla empty-handed, but success did follow at Naas later in the afternoon when his Kaiser Black claimed the Grade 3 feature race of the day, to follow-up his second in a Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival.
The former Largy point-to-point winner was guided to that big success by Doyle’s son Jack, who has been enjoying particular success in America in recent years.
Track thanks
THE Premier Harriers were very appreciative of landowner Ger Casey and family who supplied the land for Sunday’s fixture, after they had to move from regular track at Horse and Jockey.
Turtulla point-to-point track is used by the Golden Vale Hunt who host their annual meeting in the autumn. The track was first introduced in 2017 and has produced some decent winners including Beakstown.
Bookies beware
ONLY three bookmakers braved the weather at the Tipperary fixture. They were Joe Warren, the O’Neill Brothers and winning handler on the day Gerry Kelleher.