Michael Duggan

THE 10-times champion jockey Derek O’Connor took the lion’s share of the spoils when riding three winners at last Sunday’s Co Clare Hunt fixture at Quakerstown.

O’Connor, who lives just a few miles from the track at Tubber on the Clare/Galway border, paid his first visit of the afternoon to the winner’s enclosure when partnering Pat Doyle’s 2/5 favourite Bacardys to victory in the opening Goffs Bloodstock Sales four-year-old maiden.

A faller at Rathmorrissey on his debut, Bacardys made no mistake this time round when quickening away impressively in the closing stages to beat runner-up Close Escape by nine lengths.

Doyle was on duty at Fairyhouse, but Dungarvan, Co Waterford veterinary surgeon Walter Connors who owns the successful son of Coastal Path reported: “This is a very smart horse and Pat (Doyle) liked him right from the word go. I bought him in France as a foal and he won in great style today, making up for what was an unlucky tumble first time out. He’s for sale now.”

Half an hour later O’Connor was back in the number one berth when his mount, Fair Return (1/1 favourite), claimed the O’Sullivan’s Hotel Gort & Road Maintenance Services Ltd five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Trained at Ogonnelloe in East Clare by Ronnie O’Leary for his wife Vicky, this debutant son of Presenting turned in a superb round of jumping when pulling away in the closing stages to beat Mark Fagan’s Super Scorpion by half a dozen lengths.

“He’s a smashing horse with a very bright future,” said the winning trainer. “He’s a big, rangy type and we hadn’t him fully wound up by any means so there is loads of improvement to come. He’s a natural jumper and will develop into a lovely chaser.”

O’Connor’s hat-trick at the scenic Burrrenside course was completed in the Carey Corbett Financial Solutions winners of one where he steered even-money shot Festive Day to victory for Gort, Co Galway trainer Norman Lee.

The winner and 4/5 favourite Cnoc Na Gcon had this three-runner contest between from a long way out with Festive Day finding more when it mattered most to defeat that rival by eight lengths.

Lee, who trains the winner for Limerick owner Sarah Hogan, divulged: “It’s great this horse has won as his owners are loyal supporters of mine. He has had a few little issues in the past, but we’ve sorted those now. He was idling a little bit in front and we’ll probably go to the track with him next for a beginners’ chase.”

There were emotional scenes in the winner’s enclosure following the ITBA & The Turkey Trotters Patricia Lynch Memorial five and six-year-old mares’ maiden where victory went to 2/1 shot Jodies Miss, trained by the late Patricia’s father Pat.

The daughter of Winged Love was given a dashing ride by Gearoid O’Loughin who made ever yard of the running on the six-year-old to beat My Lady West by 20 lengths.

The winner who is owned by Catherine O’Sullivan from Waterford may well reappear in a mares’ winners’ race before embarking on a career inside the rails.

Jockey James ‘Corky’ Carroll landed the final two races on the card, teaming up with Co Tipperary trainer Aidan Kennedy to claim the Gort Mart, Gerry Finnerty & Clare Local Bookmakers six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden with impressive 2/1 joint-favourite Hinxworth.

Sent to the front with three to jump, this son of Milan was always in command when running on strongly to beat Stephen Mahon’s Arranhill Rascal by 15 lengths.

“He’s a good horse and the nice ground is really the key to him,” stated Kennedy. He is very well-bred and is full-brother to Le Reve who has won five races for Lucy Wadham in Britain. Today was only his third ever run and he was unlucky the last day when second at Lisronagh where the winner got first run on us. He’ll probably be sold now.”

Carroll went on to complete his brace in the concluding Hassett Considine Solicitors confined maiden where his mount, Who For You (4/5 favourite) recorded a slightly fortunate success.

Rockey Storm looked set to score here under Jimmy O’Rourke for trainer Hannah Lee when leading into the final fence, but a bad blunder here gave the chasing Who For You a second bite of the cherry and he seized the opportunity when rallying on the run-in to beat that rival by two lengths.

Tom Costello trains the victorious son of Craigsteel for his sister-in-law Claire Costello at his Newmarket-on-Fergus yard. He divulged: “The better ground here today was all important for this fellow. That was a competitive race and this horse is improving all the time. He jumped well throughout and has the making of a smart three-mile chaser.”

Jockeys, runners prove scarce

ONE disappointing aspect of last Sunday’s Quakerstown fixture was the lack of runners, with just a total of 31 horses turning out in the six races ran.

The ground was in great shape, one trainer (who didn’t have a winner by the way) described it as ‘beautiful going’, while the fences and track in general were of a high standard.

One theory doing the rounds was that quite a few owners and trainers were willing to run their horses, but the dearth of experienced riders available meant they couldn’t find a suitable jockey.

Last Sunday was a very busy day with four point-to-point meetings and two jump meetings on the track taking place and, perhaps, the Turf Club need to have a look at this situation as it certainly seems to be spreading things a bit thin.

Worth the wait for Costello

WINNING owner Claire Costello was over the moon to record her first winner as an owner following the success of her Who For You, trained by her brother-in-law Tom Costello in the confined maiden.

“I’m thrilled to have my first winner and my sister-in-law Kate McCarthy bred him so it’s a real family success,” said Ms Costello, whose husband Dermot is a former champion point-to-point rider.

“This horse’s full-brother won a few bumpers in England and I bought him just to keep him in the family. It hard to win and it’s been a long time coming, but days like today are well worth the wait.”

Miss brings memorable success

SELDOM, if ever, will jockey Gearoid O’Loughlin ride a more memorable winner than his all-the-way success aboard Jodies Miss in the mares’ maiden.

“It absolutely fantastic to win this race which is run in memory of the late Patricia Lynch,” said the Clarecastle, Co Clare native.

“Tragically Patricia lost her life a few years ago in a riding accident and she was very close to us all so this means the world to me. I’ve worked with Patricia’s dad, Pat and her uncle John all my life and if she was with us today she would have got a great kick out of it.

“I’d like to mention Alan Kelly who does all the work with this mare and her owner Catherine O’Sullivan too. We laid her out for this race and, thankfully, it came off.”