‘TRIXIE’ Barry is a long-standing points supporter and the Fermoy-based handler was virtually mobbed by well-wishers following the last gasp success of his charge Bartlemy Boy in an outstanding renewal of the open at Sunday’s Ballindenisk fixture, staged under the auspices of the United Hunt.
Seven-year-old Bartlemy Boy (4/5 – evens favourite) certainly brought the best recent form to the table in this 15-runner contest considering that he chased home last season’s Cheltenham Foxhunters winner Wonderwall on his return to action at Dromahane last month.
King Alex disputed the running with Desert Cave until edging into a narrow advantage from before the third-last of the 12 obstacles and Panda Boy arrived to hold every chance well before two out.
Bartlemy Boy was however edging closer the whole time and moved into second spot for Alan O’Sullivan when erring two out. Soon in pursuit of King Alex, he mastered Garrett Ahern’s charge in the dying strides to oblige by a head.
Four-horse handler Barry remarked of his wife Mary Hayes’ Bartlemy Boy: “He’s a tough old sort and we’ll now go to Dromahane on December 30th. It’s great to win locally and we might go for a hunter chase at some stage later on.”
Double up for Osborne
Handler Sean Osborne combined with James Walsh to record a double with the Co Wicklow-based pair getting off the mark courtesy of the grey Ya Will Ya (5/2 - 11/4 favourite) in the five-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.
The Kingston Hill homebred owned by Osborne’s wife Mary Claire Neville, disputed the running with Sonyourastar until leading from before the third last.
Having secured the faster jump two out, Ya Will Ya was holding his rivals approaching the last and returned with a length to spare over former track performer Tea In The Park.
“He got a cut last year and needed that bit of time. He would be a better horse in a more true-run race and there should be a nice bit of improvement in him,” reported handler Osborne of Ya Will Ya.
The six-year-old Honey Come Quick (2/1 - 3/1) brought up the Osborne/Walsh brace by destroying the opposition in the mares’ winners of two.
Honey Come Quick, owned and bred by her handler’s father Seamus Osborne who celebrated his 76th birthday on Sunday, supplemented last month’s Knockmullen House maiden success by leading from before three out to dismiss Queen Of The Gales by 24 lengths.
REMEMBER the name New Rules. That was the clear message emanating following the running of the first division of the four-year-old maiden as the John Murphy-trained newcomer (5/4 - 6/4 favourite) treated his rivals with disdain by cruising home in the colours of the Highfort Partnership 2, much to the dismay of the nine bookmakers present.
New Rules always lobbed along close to the pace as Asleep In Court and Ballydine Boy took the 11 runners along. There was only going to be one outcome approaching two out as Johnny Barry sent the son of Walk In The Park, a €105,000 acquisition at last year’s Derby sale, to the front and he duly accounted for Holshot by six lengths.
Murphy’s son and assistant George remarked of New Rules: “He’s a gorgeous big horse that we’ve always liked. He’s a great jumper and I think that he has a very exciting future.”
Close finish
Mick Goff, whose recent Dromahane winner Red Acres Max sold for £240,000 at the previous evening’s Goffs UK Coral Gold Cup sale after racing in Newbury, sent out debutant Dancing Soldier (4/1 - 11/2) to score under his son Harry Goff in the second division of this same race.
Dancing Soldier, whose unraced dam is a half-sister to Jim Culloty’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Lord Windermere, stormed through to pick up the running on the inner approaching two out.
A superb jump at the last proved crucial for the winning Soldier Of Fortune-sired bay, a €30,000 purchase by Declan Roberts at last year’s Derby sale, as he held on score by head from Too Hot To Trot in the silks of handler Goff’s wife Caitriona.
HANDLER Pat Doocey, who hadn’t saddled a runner since 2014, seems to have a nice prospect on his hands in Regal Prince (5/1 - 10/1) who made a taking winning debut in the five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts’ maiden.
The six-year-old Regal Prince, also bred by Clonmult-based Doocey and shared with Cora Cronin, made smooth progress under William Verling from four out and he moved through to overtake She’ll Be Kept just before the last.
The winning Sholokhov-sired chesnut then scorched clear to beat She’ll Be Kept by 10 and a half lengths.
The Terence Leonard-owned/trained Lady Cosmo (4/1 - 6/1) vindicated the promise of her third-placed effort behind subsequent British bumper winner Ballylicky Bay at Dromahane last April by landing the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden under James Coffey.
Seasonal debutant
Lady Cosmo moved to the head of affairs before two out and, while edging left-handed approaching the last, she still fought off fellow seasonal debutant Oh My Jenny by a half-length.
The five-year-old Lady Cosmo was due to be offered at this past Wednesday’s Goresbridge point-to-point sale.
Horse to follow
Too Hot To Trot (C. W. Fennessy): This graduate of the Fairyhouse May sale rallied to tremendous effect in the truly-run second division of the four-year-old maiden when beaten a head by Dancing Soldier. He should develop into a smart two-and-a-half-mile track performer with another season under his belt.