THERE was no shortage of runners at Sunday’s Ballindenisk meeting as the United Foxhounds-sanctioned fixture saw no less than 88 runners participating on the eight-race card.
The biggest cheer of the afternoon was reserved for 20-year-old Abbie Twomey from Midleton as she recorded an initial career success aboard her own horse Diamond Duke (3/1 - 4/1) in the five-year-old and upwards confined hunt maiden.
The Terence O’Brien-trained winner, who was placed on two previous occasions this term, disputed the running with Kared’as De Cougny until dropping third on the run to the penultimate of the 12 obstacles.
The seven-year-old stormed back into contention from two out, and he picked up the running on take-off for the last. Having thrown a superb leap here, the son of Diamond Boy then asserted on the flat to see off Carrigane by a length.
“Abbie works with me, and she has been with me for the past four years,” said handler O’Brien. “She bought Diamond Duke to ride herself, and she gave him a terrific ride, she never panicked on him.”
Twomey commented: “Diamond Duke is a great jumper, and he has brought me on a tonne. I couldn’t ask for a better horse to give me my first winner.”
Successful debut
The Sean Doyle-trained Kingside Lady (5/4 - 6/4 favourite) recorded a bloodless debut success under Barry O’Neill in the four-year-old mares’ maiden, much to the dismay of the ten bookmakers present.
Kingside Lady picked up the running at half way, and it was clear that she was travelling best in the lead from two out and, with O’Neill looking around for non-existent dangers after the second last, the daughter of Kingston Hill forged clear to dismiss Miss Valdez by six lengths.
“She’s a very classy filly that Barry saw working a fortnight ago, and he put himself in the frame to ride her,” reported handler Doyle of his younger brother Gearoid’s Kingside Lady, a €7,000 graduate of Part 2 of last year’s Derby sale.
James Kenny’s Maganey (4/1 - 5/1) supplemented his maiden victory at this same venue two weeks earlier by coming home as he pleased under James Murray in the winners’ of one.
The seven-year-old eased through to pick up the running after three out and it was clear that he was travelling best from before the second last with his rider having a quick look behind him. The winning chesnut then maintained the tempo to beat Farnahoe Rebel by seven lengths.
“He was a bit unlucky to get two falls that he didn’t deserve. He has improved away and could now be sold,” remarked handler Kenny of his mother, Noeleen’s Maganey.
HANDLER Michael Murphy had yet to saddle a winner this year on arrival at this meeting. What a difference a few hours can make as the Co Wexford operator combined with Darragh Higgins to record a double, the pair opening their account courtesy of newcomer Dan De Champ (4/1 - 5/1) in the first division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Dan De Champ still had eight horses in front of him with a mile left to travel, but the son of Old Persian made eye-catching progress from after three out, and came through to dispute with runner-up with Saint De Gemix approaching the second last.
The bay, who traces back to former Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Forest Sun, threw the faster leap at the final fence and readily accelerated to account for Saint De Gemix by two lengths. The pair returned 13 lengths clear of the third-placed Up For Grabs.
Murphy cut a relieved figure as he reported on his Redbridge Stables-owned Dan De Champ: “I bought him off his breeder, Dan Mangan, as a foal. He’s a great moving horse and was green there, but he was very good when he got into a rhythm. He will now be sold.”
Doubling up
Murphy and Higgins completed their double with Order Another One (3/1 - 4/1) in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.
Order Another One, still representing her former handler Warren Ewing but having an initial start for Murphy, stepped forward from her most recent fourth-placed effort by assuming command before two out.
The daughter of Order Of St George, a €10,000 acquisition at the 2024 Fairyhouse May sale, then asserted approaching the last to dispose of Queen Lily by five and a half lengths.
On an excellent afternoon for Wexford-trained horses, handler Mark Scallan struck with his wife Laura’s debutant Harzwood (4/1 - 6/1) in the second division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Harzwood, a €16,000 graduate of last year’s Fairyhouse July sale who traces back to former 1000 Guineas winner Ameerat, was mostly upsides in front, and Luke Murphy’s mount held a fractional advantage over Ballylusk who exited at the second last badly impeding Texas Jim in the process. Harzwood was always in command thereafter and returned with eight six and a half lengths to spare over Mahon Bridge.
THE Gearoid O’Loughlin-owned and trained Get Wise (5/1 - 7/1) booked his passage to this past Wednesday’s Goffs UK sale in Doncaster [sold for £82,000] by posting a last-gasp debut success under Joey Dunne in the first division of the five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden. Get Wise, a late May foal who was bought for €15,000 by David Mullins at the 2024 Fairyhouse May sale, made smooth progress from off the pace after three out, and surged past long-time leader Cross Of Moanrue inside the final 50 yards to oblige by a half-length.
Happy success
Cross Of Moanrue’s rider Darragh Allen experienced better fortune by landing the second division of this contest aboard the Michael Mangan-trained Willyahaveacup (4/1 - 5/1).
The son of Ocovango who traces back to the late Dessie Hughes’ Grade 1-winning novice hurdle winner Colonel Braxton, led before the last en-route to thwarting the pacesetting Fierce Friend by four and a half lengths in the silks of the Happy Valley Syndicate.
Horse to follow
Saint De Gemix (J. O’Neil): A son of Gemix, this Derby sale graduate atoned for falling at half-way on his Stowlin debut two weeks earlier by making Dan De Champ pull out all the stops in the first division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden. The bay was beaten two lengths into second spot and a bright track career seems assured.