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JOHNNY Barry was the only rider to partner a double at Saturday’s rescheduled Dungarvan meeting, which took place under the auspices of the Lismore Harriers at the historic Kilossera circuit, and he completed his brace aboard owner/trainer Joe O’Keeffe’s debutant Cloudio in a good renewal of the adjacent hunts’ maiden.
The eye was always drawn to the six-year-old Cloudio (2/1 - 5/2), who was held up off the pace, as the consistent Tokens Glory took the seven runners along at a generous clip tracked by The Price Of Peace.
The eventual winner, a half-brother to Olly Murphy’s four-time winner Roccovango, effortlessly made his way into contention on the long run to the penultimate of the 14 obstacles and a swift jump took him to the front over the final fence.
The son of Cloudings then bounded clear to dismiss fellow first-timer The Price Of Peace by a widening five lengths with Tokens Glory fading to secure the minor honours, a further two lengths adrift.
Lovely horse
Three-horse Tallow handler O’Keeffe remarked of Cloudio, who was bred by his brother Bill: “He’s a lovely horse with a big engine and he had been working well at home. He might run in one of the point-to-point bumpers after first of all going for a winners’ race,” said O’Keeffe of Cloudio.
Barry instigated his double aboard the Paul Power-trained Well Loved (7/4 - 5/4) who dead-heated for a share of the spoils with Paul Kiely’s Lily Milan (evens favourite), the mount of James Murphy, in the six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.
The grey Craan Rose set out with the intention of making all and she led until overtaken by former handicap hurdler Well Loved before the last. Well Loved then appeared the most likely winner when Craan Rose fell at this final fence when still just a half-length adrift in second.
Other ideas
The recent Dromahane debut runner-up Lily Milan though had other ideas and she made up in the region of three lengths on the run-in to join issue on the line with the pair returning five lengths clear of the third-placed Mahler May.
The eight-year-old Well Loved represents Tramore breeder Fionan O’Driscoll while it’s Mark Walsh from New Ross who owns Lily Milan, a six-year-old who is out of an unraced half-sister to Racing Demon.
The Robert Tector-owned/trained An Buachaill Rua (5/1 - 8/1) completed the course for the first time at the third career attempt by annihilating the opposition under Jack Hendrick in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The Getaway-sired An Buachaill Rua, who was still lying fourth when falling at the last on his previous start in the November Lisronagh contest won by Hank West, made smooth progress from three out and he struck the front before the second-last.
Plain sailing
It was all plain sailing thereafter, but what was notable though was the potent turn of foot that An Buachaill Rua showed from the last and it was one that saw coast home 15 lengths clear of last month’s Aghabullogue third Boise Idaho.
“He had a great run in Lisronagh and he got into a lovely rhythm here today. He will probably now be sold,” remarked Tector of An Buachaill Rua, a relation to Grade 2 British bumper owner Prominent Profile whom he shares with breeder Maria Kavanagh’s father Harry Kavanagh.
WEST Of Carrig (evens - 11/10), who has been mixing with good company of late in hunter chases, swept clear from the last to come home as he pleased under Carrigtwohill-based handler Don Browne’s son Adrian Browne in the novice riders’ open.
An excellent third to Milan Forth in a two and a half mile Clonmel hunter chase last month having previously occupied the same position behind Con’s Roc at Limerick over Christmas, West Of Carrig adapted totally different tactics here as he set off in front.
He held a 10-length advantage from half-way, but this was whittled down by Pat Coyne from after three out.
Pat Coyne however had to be pushed along from before the penultimate obstacle and he was held in second spot, some four lengths adrift, when unseating at the last.
West Of Carrig, having soared over this final fence, then swept clear to defeat Lord Of Kerak by 10 lengths with his owner/rider giving an acknowledging wave to the crowd in the closing stages.
“We said that we would let him roll away in front and it’s great that it worked,” remarked three-horse handler Browne of West Of Carrig, whom he rides out himself at home.
“We’ve plenty of options with him now and we might run him in another hunter chase.”
to keep them happy
HANDLER Ray Hurley, having sent out the mare Lucky Mahler to win here 12 months ago, kept his supporters happy by saddling Cold Old Fire (evens - 5/4) to post a deserved success in the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.
Cold Old Fire, a shade unlucky when losing out to The Moonlight Man by a head on his previous start at Aghabullogue, disputed the running with Minella Mission until he had to be rousted along by Darragh Allen when John Nallen’s charge edged ahead before two out.
A teak-tough sort, Cold Old Fire came a second time to lead on the flat en-route to keeping the rallying Minella Mission at bay by three-parts of a length. The seven-year-old Cold Old Fire, owned by the Tutti Fruitti Syndicate that includes breeder Tom Keogh from Ballinhassig, will now contest a winners’ race.
Punters experienced the best possible start to proceedings as the Aidan Fitzgerald-trained Broomfield Aderra (4/5 - 1/1 favourite) justified favouritism in the five-year-old mares’ maiden.
Disputed
The Walk In The Park-sired Broomfield Aderra, acquired by owner Ray Fitzgerald for €42,000 at the 2023 Derby Sale, disputed the running with Dempsey’s Milan until getting on top with Troy Walsh from after two out to see off first-timer Hearnes Boreen by four lengths.
Broomfield Aderra, whose dam is a half-sister to blacktype placed hurdling mare Loughaderra Dame from the same family as Strong Promise, will now be sold.
Craan Rose (Michael Goff): A granddaughter of Pat Hughes’ five-time winning racemare Cullenstown Lady who won over hurdles with Richard Dunwoody at the 1996 Galway festival, this diminutive grey set off in front in the six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.
She led until headed before the last and was still lying a close second when falling here. She should atone in a similar type of contest.
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