ALL roads led to Ballindenisk on Saturday for the rescheduled Lisgoold fixture, one that took place under the auspices of the United Foxhounds, and King Alex (5/4 - evens favourite) atoned for his narrow eclipse at the previous meeting here by cruising home under his handler Garrett Ahern’s son Josh in the novice riders’ open.
The 12-year-old, a former four-time track winner for Barry Connell that held a one-time rating of 126 over fences, disputed the running virtually throughout and he made the decisive move by edging ahead well after the third last.
In command from two out, the French-bred stormed clear after this penultimate obstacle to defeat Lord Of Kerak by a resounding 12 lengths.
“He’s a horse that’s rock solid and Josh is getting great experience on him,” said Ahern of the winner, King Alex, owned by his daughter Chloe. “We’ll run him again in a few weeks’ time.”
Support justified
Previous Ballindenisk form came to the fore in the preceding six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden as Eamonn Gallagher’s Oh My Jenny (9/4 - 2/1 favourite) obliged, much to the dismay of the eight bookmakers present.
Only beaten a half-length into second spot at Ballindenisk on November 30th, the daughter of Soldier Of Fortune was always positioned quite close to the pace and overcame a few minor jumping errors early doors by picking up the running before two out.
Clearly in control approaching the last, she asserted for Johnny Barry to score by three lengths for the Dee Lads Syndicate from counties Cork and Tipperary
“She’s not a typical point-to-point mare, but she’s very tough and I think that she will slot in over hurdles,” remarked Gallagher of Oh My Jenny.
Well-related
Owner/trainer Robert Tector, also on the mark with Doubleosue at Tinahely, sent out Phantom Of Delight (2/1 - 3/1) to score in the five-year-old mares’ maiden.
An own-sister to Anthony Honeyball’s Grade 1-placed chasing mare Ms Parfois, the daughter of Mahler was having a fourth career start and always took the eye in running under Brian Dunleavy. Forcing the pace on the outer, she was in control from two out and went on to win by three lengths from Small Talk.
The likelihood is that the well-built Phantom Of Delight, in whom joint-breeder Darly Deacon still holds an interest, will now be offered for sale.
THIS meeting is one that will forever live in the memory of 17-year-old Billy Aherne from Conna, as he made his initial mount between the flags a winning one aboard his father Garry Aherne’s Vodka Splash (3/1) in the concluding five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts maiden.
The seven-year-old Vodka Splash, a Ballyknock runner-up last season that was making his first start for current connections, was held up off the pace and made smooth progress to join long-time leader Bearys Cross at this second-last fence.
Bumper experience
With the long-time leader then cruelly unseating here, the British-bred bay stormed clear approaching the last to score by 10 lengths in the silks of Charlie Moore from Kilworth.
Teenager Aherne, who secured valuable experience in bumpers last summer, is presently a fifth year student at Fermoy’s Colaiste Chraoibhin and he returned to a well-deserved reception with his maternal grandfather John O’Mahony also on hand to join in the post-race celebrations.
ADAM Feeney is experiencing a fine campaign and was the only individual to partner two winners on the card, beginning with Tom Keating’s Boundfornowhere (4/1 - 6/1) in the truly-run five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Boundfornowhere, an eye-filling chasing type that had the benefit of a previous run, got into a lovely rhythm in third spot and assumed command approaching the second last. It was all plain sailing thereafter, as the victorious €70,000 Goffs Arkle sale graduate stormed clear before the final fence and was eased down to win by eight lengths.
“I always thought of him as a nice horse and he just wasn’t right when he ran in Curraghmore last Easter. He will probably now be sold,” reported Keating of the Yeats gelding.
Worth the wait
Mark Quigley’s Laois challenger Benwisken (3/1 - 7/2) brought up Feeney’s brace by returning from a 20-month absence to collect the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.
Runner-up on his career debut as a five-year-old at Kildorrery in February 2024, the seven-year-old was always positioned at the head of affairs until he stylishly asserted from two out to dismiss Vals Charm by seven lengths. The Champs Elysees-sired Benwisken, representing James Barry from Bartlemy, could now contest the forthcoming hunters chase at Thurles.
It was appropriate that there was a minute’s silence observed during racing for the fixture’s president Mick Fitzgerald from Midleton, who died aged 101 on New Year’s Day, as he was one of the original committee members for this meeting, which was first staged at Top Cross outside Lisgoold in January 1984.
Horse to follow
Ruplough Rob (V. Sheehan): This newcomer by Affinisea was well-touted beforehand in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden and the grey gave a solid account, finishing a creditable third with a final fence blunder certainly not helping his prospects. The Goffs Arkle sale graduate should win his maiden over the coming weeks.