Sean Ward

LOCAL Croom handler Joey Casey saddled a double as the County Limerick Hunt staged their traditional autumn fixture at Rathcannon, where a generous crowd were treated to some competitive fare.

Casey initially struck in the opening Tattersalls Ireland four-year-old maiden as the Richie Harding-partnered Zamparelli (8-10/1) capitalised on the final fence departure of Pat Doyle’s Back Bar to account for Ballinasilla by three lengths in likeable fashion.

Sporting the silks of his handler’s father Edward, the victorious bay hails from the family of staying chasers Portrait King and Competitive Edge.

“It’s taken a while for the penny to drop with him. He’s progressed with each run but Richie said he was still very green in front there. He’s 16.3hh, loves that nice ground and will make a lovely horse for England,” commented Casey, whose charge was displaying the benefit of a recent seventh-placed effort at Castletown.

Unfortunate to unseat aboard Back Bar, Richie Deegan enjoyed better fortune as he concluded the Casey-brace aboard the quietly-fancied Ornua (4-3/1) in the following Dave Clarkes Bar five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Absent since a highly-encouraging effort at Athlacca in the spring, the Mahler-gelding showed all the right attributes on the final climb to the line to withstand the late effort of favourite Hogan’s Heights by two and a half lengths.

For good measure, former jumps jockey Casey has care of the chesnut for his wife Gemma Hartigan. The former disclosed: “We think a fair bit of this fellow, he has loads of ability. He was unlucky to come down when we felt he might have won first time out. I’d imagine he’s sales bound now.”

MEMORABLE

The day’s feature event, The Old Bake House Restaurant & EJ Mitchell & Sons Auctioneers mares open lightweight will live long in the memory of Co Galway rider Eoin Mahon as he recorded his first career success aboard Abigail Lynch (4/1).

Following the exit of long odds-on favourite Maple Mons at the first obstacle, the daughter of Oscar produced a dominant display at the head of affairs, ultimately posting a 10-length triumph over Escapefromthedark. Sporting cheekpieces on this occasion, the three-time track victor is owned and trained outside Cashel, Co Tipperary, by Sam Curling and on this evidence appears set for an industrious campaign.

Front-running tactics were also successfully employed as Carry On Asian (6-10/1) continued the fine run of form for the father and son combination of Jerry and Shane Baragry in the O’Flynns Centra, Bruff winners’ of two. The teak tough seven-year-old saw off the attentions of a host of challengers including favourite Sweet As A Nut, who ran out at the penultimate obstacle.

From this juncture, the son of Asian Heights responded to all of 17-year-old Shane Baragry’s urgings to outpoint the rallying Arthropod by two lengths. “He’s a fair horse, he jumped super today again. He improved in terms of fitness from the last day also. We will probably have a look at a hunters chase in Wexford next month for him now,” reflected owner/trainer Baragry Snr of his home-bred, who was victorious in the same contest a little over a year ago.

CHAMPAGNE

Last season’s champion novice rider Chris O’Donovan made his first ride of the season a triumphant one as he guided Champagne Pop (4-7/2CF) to victory for Killarney trainer Eamon Courtney in the Tim McAuliffe five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Carrying the colours of Courtney’s wife Valerie, the daughter of Scorpion led her 11 rivals a merry dance for much of the three-mile journey before eventually shaking off the unrelenting threat of fellow co-favourite Moneystown by two and a half lengths.

Courtney, similarly getting off the mark at the first time of asking this term, stated: “That’s great as we bred her ourselves and her half-sister will be out soon. Chris is a great rider and he gave her a fantastic ride to be fair. She’s a lovely jumper so we may look for a hurdle race now.”

Reigning The Irish Field champion-rider Jamie Codd was on the scoresheet aboard the Aine Tierney-owned Sandycove Island (6/4-4/1) in the closing Gain Horse Feeds six-year-old and upwards maiden. Placed on a couple of occasions inside the rails, the successful six-year-old was produced with a well-timed challenge up the inside after the penultimate obstacle.

At this point the Lahib sired-gelding headed the pace setting duo of Barn Braq and Ballyfore Cross before cosily dismissing the latter by two and a half lengths. The bay is trained by well-known jockeys’ agent Ruaidhri Tierney at his base overlooking Kinsale, Co Cork.

Absent trainer Tierney was represented by his father Finbarr, who revealed: “He did that nicely in the end. He’ll probably head for a winners’ race next or else he may be sold.”

Eoin Mahon off the mark

GALWAY jockey Eoin Mahon was rewarded for his enterprising ride aboard Abigail Lynch in the mares open recording a pillar-to-post win over Escapefromthedark. An elated Mahon, riding his first winner, was surrounded by well-wishers on dismounting from Sam Curling’s charge. The 20-year-old explained: “It’s great to get off the mark, as I have been trying for three years now. I’m riding out for Paurick O’Connor a couple of days a week and I’m also with Martin Cullinane too. They’ve been very good to me. I do some schooling for Sam also and I’m very grateful to him for giving me the ride. Derek (O’Connor) has also been a huge help to me from the start and I’ve learned so much from him. To have him around home offering advice is invaluable to me. Hopefully I can kick on now and ride a few more winners in the coming weeks.”