PROLIFIC point-to-point winner Anseanachai Cliste graduated to the track with honours after showing plenty of resolve to land the Toals Bookmakers Ulster National at Downpatrick on Sunday.
A run of seven successive victories between the flags saw Stephen McConville’s charge named Connolly’s Red Mills Champion Pointer last term. He duly made it eight in a row in Farmaclaffley at the start of the month.
This was a stiffer task though, as the 8/1 shot raced out of the handicap at the bottom of the weights.
He was always prominent under Dylan Robinson before improving to lead at the third last. Tulsa Jack (10/1) threw down a stern challenge after the penultimate fence and indeed grabbed the lead. However, on the run-in Anseanachai Cliste rallied to get up close home by a head.
Anseanachai Cliste is the subject of a British Horseracing Authority investigation after stewards ordered his withdrawal from the Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, in relation to race-day feed and water.
McConville said: “I wouldn’t like to talk about Cheltenham at the moment. We’ll see after the inquiry.
“We are here to enjoy the day. Please God it worked out well. He just gallops and stays and showed that in the point-to-points and winning the four-miler in Kinsale at the end of the year. He had a wee setback early on and we didn’t get him back until Armagh point-to-point. After that things were coming together for him so we decided to come here.
“We thought he might be very low in the handicap. We were running out of the handicap today thinking we maybe still have a chance. It worked out well.
“We had a good weight, the trip suited him and the undulating track suited him. We were fairly confident he would run into a place. To win is a bonus. We’ll have to sit down and have a look (at where to go). I’d say we will get a hike in the weights. The Stratford three and a half-miler could be something for him.”
The winner sported the colours of McConville’s son, Michael, an amateur jockey.
GAMBLE
Mark McNiff’s Andratx landed a gamble in the extended two and a quarter-mile handicap hurdle. From a morning price of 25/1, his odds tumbled to 7/1 on the off.
The four-year-old gelding made all for Andrew Ring, in Francisca Carton’s silks, to come home by four lengths.
This is a race that has been good to McNiff as he explained: “I’ve won this three years in a row and also won it a couple of years previous to that. He was in off a handy weight. He’s a horse that would improve for a track like this; a small, nippy little horse.
“We were off 9st 7lb so it wasn’t hard to make all. It’s a pity there’s nothing for him next week. He’ll probably come back here - he’s a horse for here, Tramore or Sligo. He wouldn’t be a horse for a galloping track.”
Derulo relished a step up in trip when obliging for trainer Liz Doyle and owner John Dwyer in the extended two and a quarter-mile rated hurdle.
Sean Flanagan steered his mount into the lead at the last and the pair forged on to score by six lengths at 11/4.
Doyle said: “It looks like he wants the two and a half (miles). He hit a flat spot across the top and made an awful mistake. Sean said he was lucky to stand up. I don’t know what mark he will get after that. We’ll look at something maybe for him in Punchestown with nice ground.
“He got just done for toe in the last furlong of the two-mile race, the flat horses did him in Leopardstown from the last hurdle. He didn’t stop, he has great cruising speed but no change of gear.”
Bookmakers couldn’t give Holly Flight away as she drifted out to 7/1 but the market got it wrong as the mare made a winning Irish debut for Alan Fleming in the maiden hurdle.
Almost two years ago she was beaten less than six lengths into third by Apple’s Jade in France, which advertised her potential.
Denis O’Regan drove her home by a short-head after a final-furlong battle with Fly Rory Fly.
“She’s a nice filly, Barry (Connell) bought her as a three-year-old out of France. She’s a lovely filly and has shown us plenty. She’s after growing since we got her and every time we were ready to run we sort of backed off,” Fleming said afterwards.
“Denis was quite pleased with her there. He said she pricked her ears in front. Hopefully she might improve again. I’m not sure where we will go, it will probably be Fairyhouse or Punchestown with a bit of luck.”
Merrion Row (8/1) gave Philip Rothwell a welcome victory in the handicap chase. Oliver Barden’s horse was strongly pressed to the line by the 6/4 favourite I’m An Izz Wizz but prevailed by a neck.
Winning jockey Danny Mullins commented: “It was a good performance. Philip has done a good job with him, he hasn’t been the easiest to train. Hopefully he’ll win again.”
An impressive round of jumping gave Clondaw Frisby success in the maiden hunters chase. He stayed on well for Mark O’Hare to take the spoils by two lengths.
Handler Jerry Cosgrave said of the 5/1 chance: “He’s not that big but he jumps fantastic and is in great form. He loved that ground. He gives you everything and is a good wee horse.
“The owners (Carnglave Racing Syndicate) just love him - they are from Ballynahinch, Dromore beside me, and Ray Nicholls, the bookmaker from Belfast. One of the owners, Fred Mackey, bred Native River.
“We’ll probably have to go for a hunters chase somewhere. He could go to Punchestown if there is something. Maybe even for the Ladies’ Cup.”
Dot Love’s Dawn Shadow (9/2) galloped the opposition into the ground in the bumper to easily post a victory by 11 lengths.
Love said: “She’s really good, she’s very consistent. We thought the ground might have been a little bit quick for her today. She rose to the occasion. She was on the bridle the whole way and finished really well.
“The owner, Sean Reilly, used to have Shadow Eile. (Jockey) Aaron Murphy rode a winner here years ago (on Green Wellies in 2007). He rides in point-to-points and his brother is Ciaran Murphy, my assistant trainer.”
ACTING STEWARDS
B. Fitzsimmons, C.P. Magnier, L. McFerran, R.S. Martin, M.F. O’Donoghue
HORSE TO FOLLOW
FLY RORY FLY (N. Meade): He was beaten a short-head by a potentially smart mare. Looks ready to win a maiden on better ground.