Front page: Today is fairly crowded, with preview by Cliff Noone of today’s meeting at Naas, and tomorrow’s classy card at Leopardstown, featuring the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle. There is a photo of Vintage Crop, one of the runners in tomorrow’s big race, but Noone thinks that Novello Allegro each-way is the best value bet.
There are two news items. First carries a small picture of Michael Kinane and Dermot Weld, accompanying news that the Tipperary man has said No to the offer to become first jockey for Sheikh Mohammed.
Valentine Lamb analyses the decision, and is not surprised, writing that Kinane’s decision: “shows how volatile the power base can be in international racing.”
While a six-figure offer was on the table, Lamb writes that Kinane has chosen to keep his “status quo” partly because of Ireland, and partly because of his lucrative winter stint in Hong Kong.
Molony returns: The second news item is about the return of Pierce Molony as a director of Navan Racecourse. Lamb writes that Molony was ousted after a vote of the Racing Board last October, when “an old score was settled.”
However, the restoration of Molony is a message to Minister for Agriculture, Joe Walsh, that the various main factions in Irish racing, namely, the Racing Board, Turf Club and Association of Irish Racecourses, “were really good friends and let’s all shove together.”
Hourigan double: Naas stages the racing on Saturday, and the going is heavy. Michael Hourigan trains a double, both ridden by Mr Enda Bolger. They start by winning the Naas EBF Novice Chase of three miles. Deep Bramble, 7/4 favourite, wins by six length and five lengths from Commercial Artist and Dysart Lass. It is Bolger’s first riding success at Naas for nearly eleven years.
The double is completed when Court Melody, 3/1 joint favourite, wins the bumper.
The biggest prize of the day is the £6,900 for the two mile and three Celbridge Handicap Hurdle. This is taken by the five-year-old mare Sullane River, ridden by David O’Connor. She has now won four times over hurdles, but trainer David McGrath says her future is over fences.
Another winning favourite is Bayrouge, who beats three rivals to take the Naas Supporters Hurdle, ridden by Kieran Gaule for Annemarie O’Brien. In contrast, the 27-runner two and a half mile maiden hurdle goes to 12/1 chance, Berkeley Forest, and Tony O’Brien.
The Tote aggregate for the day is a healthy £92,701, nearly £25,000 higher than last year.
Silent scenes: Down Royal is the venue on Wednesday afternoon, and the going is heavy. It’s also a tough day for the spectators. Peter O’Hehir reports that the course is hit by “gremlins”, so there is no commentary or closed circuit coverage.
Big race is the Jameson Irish National Trial Handicap Chase, over three miles and a furlong, worth £3,105 to the winner. The 11 runners are led home by the ten-year-old mare, Wee Madge, trained by Willie Rock. Rider Ciaran O’Brien claims his allowance, and therefore Wee Madge in practice has only nine to carry.
It’s a first win for the rider as a professional, as Wee Madge beats Stramore by five lengths. Top weight Roc De Prince can only finish ninth. Wee Madge is returned at 9/1.
A gamble is foiled in the Moira Mares Maiden Hurdle. Natasha Run is backed from sevens to threes and starts at 7/2, but is beaten six lengths by Titian Blonde and Charlie Swan. On his way to another jockeys’ championship, it’s not every day that Swan rides a winner at 10/1.
Another 10/1 winner is Sharp Decent, who takes the two and a half mile handicap hurdle for the Bryson family. The bumper also stays “local”, when Pat Graffin rides Secret Sceptre to win for trainer Ian Ferguson.
In among the card for Leopardstown tomorrow, a short filler piece tells us a story about Wee Madge. Years ago, Leslie Laverty bought the mare Miss He-Na-Su. She was bought for £750 and five goats. After visiting the stallion, Apollo Eight, it was decided to name the foal Wee Madge, after Leslie’s mother, Mrs Madge Laverty, “who is now in her eighties.”
Tramore double: Tramore hosts racing on Thursday afternoon, and the going yielding. After a double at Naas on Saturday, Michael Hourigan has another brace! He takes the opening maiden hurdle when Kevin O’Brien rides Tara Mill to win at 6/1. Then the third race, the Dumore East Opportunity Handicap Hurdle, goes to Us And Mary from the Hourigan yard. Johnny Lonergan is on board the mare, who is 4/1 second favourite.
One local trainer to have a winner is Harry de Bromhead, and he trains Chilipour to take the Woodstown Handicap Chase. Reporter Cliff Noone praises amateur rider, Mr Paul Roche, who is scoring his tenth career success.
Point-to-points: Last Sunday, point-to-point fans head to Fairyhouse for the Fingal Harriers meeting. Highlight is the open lightweight, which has 17 runnners. There are only four finishers, and they are led home by Barney Burnett, ridden by Tony Martin. In second is the 14-year-old Ah Whisht and Enda Bolger, with Set Your Sights third. Barney Burnett might now go to another open at Ashford next week, which could see him qualified for the Foxhunters at Cheltenham.
Britain: Ian Carnaby’s weekly report is on page nine. Last Saturday, at Haydock, Jodami wins the Peter Marsh Chase, laying down his credentials as a genuine Cheltenham Gold Cup contender. Jodami is trained by Peter Beaumont, but Carnaby gives a lot of credit to his jockey, Mark Dwyer: “This horse has looked much happier in his work since Mark Dwyer took over in the saddle,” writes Carnaby, adding: “he rides Jodami with the utmost sympathy and understanding.”
Ratings: Official Turf Club ratings are published on the back page. The text adds that “these ratings are only for horses who have run or are entered in handicaps.” Leading chaser is General Idea, on 150; followed by Cahervillahow on 149; then Blitzkrieg and Garamycin both on 148. Next best is Feroda with 141.
The two highest-rated hurdlers are Chirkpar and Trapper John, both on 151. Athy Sprit is on 147, followed by Minorettes Girl on 146. Garamycin is also on this list with 140.
Stud feature: Rathbarry Stud is the subject of a feature and sire reviews by “Owen Tudor”, which take up pages 27, 28 and 29. He travels to Rathbarry to meet Liam Cashman, and is “greatly impressed” by the fact that Cashman “arranged for the sun to shine during my visit.”
Pride and joy at Rathbarry is Strong Gale, now eighteen years old. He is at Rathbarry itself, while other National Hunt stallions, Brush Aside, Good Thyne and Phardante, are located “across the road” at Glenview Stud. Owen Tudor writes that “it often forgotten that Strong Gale failed by only half a length to win the Irish 2000 Guineas”.
The flat sires are Imp Society (having his first season in Ireland), Taufan, Cyrano De Bergerac, Roi Danzig, and Jareer.
American news: Two pieces of news from correspondent “Tom Rolfe” in American. The 1992 Irish Derby winner, St Jovite, formerly trained by Jim Bolger, has moved to America and will be trained by Roger Attfield. Mrs Virginia Kraft Payson’s colt, according to “Tom Rolfe”, has been tried out on a dirt track at her training centre in Florida, and, “has shown that he can handle it, at least in training.”
The second concerns double Derby winner of 1990, Quest For Fame. He has been sold, for an undisclosed sum, to Summa Stud, owned by Bruce McNall.
Inside Track: Claire Barry has her weekly “Inside Track” column, and this week she talks to commentator Peadar Flanagan, who says: “I would go to Timbucktoo to call a race.” He has kept his enthusiasm for the sport, despite the advice of his father: “He warned me at an early age against the dangers of going racing and punting.”
Flanagan’s advice is: “When I was trying to get into it, there was no way I could have done it without the goodwill of people in racing. The secret is to work very hard on the colours and have the interest.”
Irish Horse World: The winners of the 1992 The Irish Field awards are announced. Robert Splaine is leading senior show jumper. David Foster is senior event rider. Young rider awards go to Thomas Moloney for show jumping and Emma Harrington for eventing. The pony show jumping award winner is Billy Twomey.
The awards will be presented at a special lunch at Castletown House, Celbridge, on Monday, February 22nd.
Eventing profit: The accounts for the 1991 European eventing championships, staged at Punchestown, have been published. They were passed at an EGM of the Irish Horse Trials Society at Kill last Sunday.
The accounts show a retained profit of £14,387. At a previous presentation, Craig McKinney, chairman of Punchestown International Horse Trials Ltd, had predicted at loss of about £350,000. However, grant aid from Bord Failte and the European Regional Development Fund, and a VAT refund, have turned the loss into a profit.
The grant aid from Bord Failte comes with the condition that Punchestown would be available as a site for an international three-day-event for the next ten years.