Sean Ward

A BUMPER crowd once again gathered in Belharbour on Sunday last as the Co Clare Harriers held their annual fixture at the Burrenside venue. On track the fare was, as always, ultra-competitive and it was Co Cork-pilot Johnny Barry who fared best by partnering a double.

Local hope Cloone Lady (5/4 - 4/5f) initiated the Barry brace in the Gain Horse Feeds, Gort Co-Op Mart & McMahon Oil five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden as she proved a class apart from her eight rivals. Owned and bred locally in Co Galway by the Gillane family, the imposing Norman Lee-handled bay was given the office rounding the home bend by Barry and had little difficulty in repelling the efforts of the front-running Rollercoaster by three lengths.

“I’m thrilled she’s won for the Gillane family. She’s a good decent mare that will have no problem making her mark on the track. She’s 17.1hh and will be better again in a year’s time,” commented Lee, whose charge was fulfilling the promise of her excellent runner-up effort at Aghabullogue.

PROFESSIONAL

The Pat Doyle-trained Sydney Paget (4/6 - 4/5f) claimed the John O’Donnell Hardware & Clare Marts open for the second time to provide Barry with his concluding victory. Supplementing his success in the race in 2016, the Roddy O’Byrne-owned bay produced a fine leap at the last, which allowed him to see off the persistent challenge of main market-rival Marinero by two lengths.

With triumphant handler Doyle on duty elsewhere, his wife Mary remarked of the now nine-time points scorer: “This horse is such a professional. Johnny felt he had loads left in the tank at the end. We’ll see how he comes out of this but he’ll most likely go for another open.”

Barry and Doyle had earlier been out of luck as their representative Famous Saying had to give best by four lengths to the Nick Stokes-handled Envious Editor (3 - 5/1) in the opening The Costello Family four-year-old maiden. Confidently ridden by last year’s champion novice rider Liam Quinlan, the Aizavoski gelding moved through stylishly to lead on the run to the final obstacle before surging clear in the closing stages.

Fethard, County Tipperary-based Stokes stated of his wife Anna’s gelding, who was acquired privately from Eoin Banville’s Arctic Tack Stud: “I’ve never had a four-year-old out as early as this, but this fellow’s just done everything right from day one. He’s a nice horse that we feel is an above average sort. He’ll go to the sales now.”

Envious Editor was the first runner for Aizavoski, a son of Monsun.

The following Race Bet & Pier Head Bar & Restaurant five-year-old geldings maiden saw a gamble landed as the Rob James-ridden Dlauro (5/2 - evens) sauntered to a stunning debut success. Dominating from the front throughout, the imposing son of Lauro, sporting the familiar Monbeg Syndicate silks, had his 10 rivals struggling on the turn for home, ultimately passing the line six lengths clear of fellow newcomer Seemingly So.

The French-bred bay was purchased by his handler Donnchadh Doyle for £33,000 at the Goffs UK Spring Store Sale in 2016. Doyle disclosed: “This is a proper horse. He’s very exciting and has always pleased us. He is a super jumper; he’s one of the nicest horses we’ve ever had. He’ll head to the sales now.”

THRILLING BATTLE

Co Wexford-amateur James must have harboured high hopes of recording a double himself in the Sixmilebridge Co-Op Mart & Kerry Group Co-Op Corofin winner of one as his mount Star Wizard (6/4 - 5/2jf) was engaged in a thrilling battle with Ajijic (6/4 - 5/2jf) when falling at the final fence.

The former’s departure paved the way for the Chris O’Donovan-ridden nine-year-old to score for the second Sunday in succession. The previous week’s Nenagh older maiden victor is handled in Newcastlewest by Terence Leonard who observed of Dr Gerry Crosse’s homebred: “We couldn’t believe how well he came out of his run last week, so we said we’d take our chance again and it’s paid off. He’s a lovely fun horse to have and we’re still aiming towards the Ladies Cup.”

Novice-rider Timmy Love continued his fine season when steering his grandmother Dot’s Thinkinginmysleep (2/1 - 7/2) to victory in the concluding Linnanes Bar & Restaurant & Kilnacrandy Farm Breaking & Pre Training Yard older geldings maiden.

Runner-up in a similar contest at Dowth Hall in October, the seven-year-old swept through on the inner to the head of affairs as the field raced downhill to the last fence and had mastered the challenge of the well-supported favourite Perpignan when that opponent exited. From this point, it was plain sailing for the Spadoun-gelding who eventually dismissed Glorious Galway by a cosy four lengths.

“This is a little horse we’ve had since he was a three-year-old. He’s given Timmy some great experience in bumpers in the past. It’s great that the horse got his day today. We might have a look at a hunters chase for him at Fairyhouse next week now,” said Love.

Picturesque Clare

AN action-packed day’s entertainment at the picturesque venue concluded with a veterans’ invitation race for hunt subscribers, which was run for the Brady Browne Cup. Following two miles, punters were treated to a gripping three-way finish which saw the Des Ryan-ridden Collins Call get the better of Brian McCarthy’s mount Shanahan, with the Cyril McMahon-partnered Mrs Lynch third.

Knight watch

AMONG the considerable attendance that enjoyed the sunshine in Bellharbour was Gold-Cup winning trainer Henrietta Knight. Racing Demon, Calgary Bay, Somersby and triple Gold-Cup winner Best Mate are amongst the high-class chasers that Knight has sourced from the renowned repository in Newmarket-On-Fergus run by the Costello family, who sponsored the opening maiden.