THE rescheduled Ballinaboola meeting survived an early-morning inspection on Saturday, and the Wexford Foxhounds fixture will live long in the memory of Caitlin Grant.
The 17-year-old from Mullinavat partnered a first career winner aboard her father Colm Grant’s Occupational Force in the seven-year-old and upwards maiden for novice riders.
On an afternoon that saw the second last fence omitted, the David O’Brien-trained Occupational Force (5/2 - 3/1) always travelled well in this four-runner contest, as Two Four Fifty was responsible for the generous pace.
The winning seven-year-old, who was placed on no less than seven previous occasions, moved through to dispute the running on the inner from the third last of the 12 obstacles, and he stormed clear from two out to dismiss odds-on shot Cebu City by an increasing 10 lengths.
Winning owner Grant, who was accompanied by wife Linda with the couple’s other daughter Jess on lead-up duties, reported of the Walk In The Park-sired Occupational Force: “This is a horse that Caitlin rode out every day in Colin Bowe’s last season, and that’s how we got him. He will go for a winners’ race now, and Caitlin will be able to get more experience on him.”
Galatrona justifies favouritism
Colin Bowe likewise featured amongst the winners as he sent out Galatrona (evens favourite) to collect the five-year-old mares’ maiden, much to the dismay of the four bookmakers present.
The imposing Galatrona set off in front, and Barry O’Neill’s mount was constantly tracked by The Dancing Blue, with the pair having the race to themselves after three out.
Whilst pressure had to be applied by the champion rider at the second last, the Ben Halsall-owned daughter of Harzand still asserted after this fence, even if she did edge right-handed, and she ultimately returned with seven lengths to spare over The Dancing Blue.
“She’s a lovely big mare that had a very good first run, and she wants soft ground. She will probably now be sold,” said handler Bowe of Galatrona, a €37,000 foal purchase.
THE Nick Stokes-trained Grande J (5/4 - evens favourite) hinted that a bright track future awaits by annihilating the opposition on his career debut under Finny Maguire in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
On an excellent afternoon for front-runners, the towering Grande J was bounced out at the head of affairs, and he was never headed thereafter as he gave a polished jumping display en route to easing clear from two to contain fellow debutant Poet’s Laureate by 16 lengths.
Handler Stokes remarked of his wife Anna’s Jet Away-sired bay, in whom breeder Arctic Tack Stud’s Eoin Banville still holds an interest: “He’s a beautiful horse that jumps for fun, and he has been a natural leader from day one. It would have been a long journey home for us if he had been beaten, and he will now be sold.”
Front runner
Punters were similarly smiling following the two-and-a-half-mile four-year-old maiden as the Ellen Doyle-trained first-timer Mister Boum (2/1 - 6/4 favourite) justified strong market support in the hands of Brian Dunleavy.
Mister Boum, who really stood out in the preliminaries, was another to benefit from pace-setting tactics, and he got into a lovely rhythm in front. The €23,000 Goffs Arkle sale graduate was clearly in command approaching the last. The son of Buck’s Boum threw another fabulous jump here to return with four lengths to spare over Freetobe.
Doyle’s brother James reported of the embryonic chasing type Mister Boum: “He’s a fine, big noble beast that Sean Doyle and I own between us. He picked up well, and Brian was delighted with him. We’ll hopefully sell him now.”
THE Ian McCarthy-trained Hearts And Spades (4/6 favourite) has been really suited by the switch to the pointing sphere this term, and the former 105-rated hurdler maintained his unbeaten record between the flags by posting a fifth consecutive success of the campaign in the winners’ race, an event in which just two horses faced the starter.
The seven-year-old Hearts And Spades picked up the running for regular partner Eoin Mahon after three out, except that he then gave his supporters a major scare by blundering at the second-last. The French-bred was instantly back on an even keel as he bounded clear to dispose of Gale Force Jet by 10 lengths.
“He will be a better horse in a better race, and he has settled a lot,” said McCarthy of his wife Nicki’s Hearts And Spades. “He will now run in an open, and the ultimate plan will be a hunter chase at the Punchestown festival.”
Curling collects
Rarely does a meeting pass without a winner for Sam Curling, and the Skehanagh Stables operator struck with long odds-on shot Kildare D’Irlande (1/5 favourite), owned by his father Peter, in the six-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Kildare D’Irlande, having finished second on his two previous starts this season at Quakerstown and Boulta, was sent to the front before the second fence by David Doyle.
The €50,000 Derby sale graduate was never seriously troubled as he swept clear from two out to dismiss the only other finisher Freddies Medal by 12 lengths. The likelihood is that Kildare D’Irlande, a son of Masked Marvel, will now be sold.
Horse to follow
The Dancing Blue (J. M. Walsh): A newcomer by Blue Bresil who is out of a five-time track winning mare in Running In Heels, the bay briefly put it up to Carrigarostig runner-up Galatrona in the five-year-old mares’ maiden. Whilst beaten seven lengths into second spot, she fits the profile of a mare that should go on to succeed over hurdles next season.