THERE were a couple of wins for Northern owners at Wexford on Wednesday, starting in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle where the colours of Forkhill’s Brendan McNeill were worn to victory by Dara McGill on the 6/1 shot Custers Mistake.
The eight-year-old Zoffany gelding is trained by Ross Tumility who, according to Irish Racing, had plenty to say post-race when discussing first the chesnut and then himself.
“He’ll probably get a bit of a hike for that. I just got my flat licence granted and I might try him on the flat as he is bred for it. We’ll see how he comes out of this...
“I’ve just one other for the track at the moment and I’ve a couple of point-to-pointers to come in as well. I’ve had one point-to-point winner and I’ve a nice four-year-old and a nice five-year-old to come in as well, neither have ran before. I’ve got good support from my uncles and my family, buying horses for me.
“I’ve had horses all my life, show jumping and eventing. I work as a farrier and I ride out for different people as well. I shoe for Stuart Crawford and I shod for Gordon Elliott for a long time as well.”
Lisburn based
“I’m in the Lisburn, Newry area and Leah Knight and Michael Dobbs have been a massive help to me, as they own the yard (Danescroft Equestrian Centre) I work out of. If I’m not around, they’ll feed the horses and do whatever.”
The second win came in the near two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase where the Dermot McLoughlin-trained Finnians Row scored by a short-head for his Downpatrick owners, Anne McCartan and Frances Smyth. Unfortunately, they weren’t on hand to lead in their winner. Speaking of Downpatrick, I hope the weather is perfect for tomorrow’s Style Sunday Raceday at the track.
A great many people will have been delighted to see the Gordon Elliott-trained Winning Smut land the listed near three-mile BoyleSports Handicap Hurdle at Galway on Saturday as the successful Yeats gelding is owned by his breeder Denis Reddan who used to be such a popular presence on the local point-to-point scene.
HOME on holiday in Ireland earlier this summer, Co Donegal-born jockey Martin Harley got back to winning ways in Australia on Thursday just past when he recorded a double from four rides at Doomben.
Dylan Browne McMonagle continued his winning ways over the past week or so, riding a double at Galway last Thursday week which he followed up with another win at the western track on Sunday.
Luke McAteer rode two winners more or less in the same time period, joining forces with England-based Co Louth native Richard Fahey to win the listed fillies and mares stakes over seven furlongs at Galway last Thursday week and with Andrew Kinirons to win an extended mile maiden at the same track on Saturday.
Patrick McGettigan was also on the mark at Galway but on Friday in the concluding mile and six handicap.
In Britain, there were single wins for Oisin Orr at Nottingham on Thursday, for Kyle McHugh and Darragh Keenan on Thursday and Lingfield and Thirsk respectively, for Barry McHugh at Chester on Sunday and for Patsy Cosgrave at Brighton on Wednesday.
On the breeding front, there were wins for the Northern Bloodstock-bred newcomer Vishaka (Invincible Spirit – Queen Mia, by Famous Name) on her debut in a two-year-old fillies’ race at Nottingham on Thursday week last; for the Berry Farms-bred six-year-old gelding Aurea Fortuna (Mount Nelson – Battle Over, by Sillery) in the opening opportunity handicap hurdle at Galway on Sunday; and for the Brian and Ann Marie Kennedy-bred three-year-old gelding Precious Spartan (Magna Grecia – Skeleton, by Tobougg) in the mile handicap at Ripon on Monday.
Painting and sculptures
AS usual, Donegal painter and sculptor Marina Hamilton has a stand at this week’s Dublin Horse Show where you can admire, or better still buy, her original oil and pastel paintings plus her bronze and ceramic animal sculptures.
There appeared to be more chit chat and banter than sales talk emanating from the stand when I passed there on Wednesday and that wasn’t too surprising as I found Marina in conversation with two fellow former pony racing champions, Sharon Kelly and her sister Stacy Beckett.