RICKY Doyle rode a double on Clonmel’s all-hurdles card with his first winner coming in a dramatic four-year-old maiden hurdle, one of five races sponsored by Bulmers.
Seven of the 17 runners were out of the race as early as the second hurdle, either running out or being carried past the wing of the hurdle.
Left in front after all the mayhem, Doyle’s mount Dahoma (9/1) stayed there the rest of the way to score by three and a half lengths from Johnny Rambo.
Winning trainer Declan Queally said: “It was almost like Red Marauder’s Grand National! This horse had so much experience in handicaps and had gone around in front in schooling races, so I was pretty sure he’d be honest enough to face the challenge of leading.
Travelling Soldiers
“The Travelling Soldiers Syndicate are a great bunch of lads and include my mother’s first cousin Liam Keating, who runs a bike-rental business on the Waterford Greenway in Kilmacthomas. They had no luck from five previous horses but stuck with it, and Liam came in asking where the winner’s enclosure was!”
Ross O’Sullivan’s Global Skies (7/2) was Doyle’s other winner as the five-year-old led before two out to score by five lengths from Speakasyoufind. The Mondialiste gelding was a winner over six furlongs at two when trained in Britain.
Assistant trainer Tom Harney remarked “It is great for Charlie Doocey, from Mayo but living in the UK, and it is his first horse with us.”
Regarding his own role, he added: “I’ve retired from race-riding having had great times, and Ross gave me great opportunities as a jockey. This is a good gig to have, as it is a yard going places.”
Making all
Runner-up in Cheltenham’s ‘Plate’ Handicap Chase last year, Thecompanysergeant landed odds of 4/11 when beating three rivals in the ‘winners’ of one’ hurdle over two miles, three furlongs.
The Kayf Tara gelding, owned by John Brennan, David Flynn and Danny Kearns, made all to beat the 30lb lower-rated Crohan Lady by three-parts of a length.
Eoghan Finegan was the man on board and said “He probably needs a lead really, but was the class horse in the race. He will get confidence from this and races like this suit him, as he doesn’t have hustle and bustle.”
JAMES Smith was stood down after a fall in the third race and two of his three intended mounts after that went on to win.
Kevin Sexton was the beneficiary in the Talbot Hotel Clonmel (C&G) Maiden Hurdle as his mount Holy Joe (25/1) came from off the pace to beat long-standing maiden The Trenches by three and a quarter lengths.
The Elusive Pimpernel six-year-old is trained by Gordon Elliott for breeder John Hyland’s Oghill House Stud. Sexton commented: “It was unfortunate for James and I was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time. He was a bit fiery beforehand, but I think he will improve and will jump a fence in time.”
Poignant race
Aidan Kelly deputised for Smith in the Paul Kavanagh Memorial Handicap Hurdle which honoured the memory of the young jockey who rode a winner on the corresponding card last year before tragically losing his life in a car accident at Christmas.
The two-and-three-quarter-mile contest saw Sallap (12/1) repeat her course and distance success of last October.
The daughter of Court Cave, trained by Sam Curling for owner/breeder Willie Cleary, was left in front when It’s Time Again crumpled on landing two out and accounted for Oogum Boogum by three and a quarter lengths.
“Sam rang looking for somebody to ride this mare after James had his fall,” explained Kelly. “I had ridden work for him during the winter, so it is nice to repay him with a winner. She isn’t overly big, but the lads told me that she was good and tough.”
THE lightly-raced Timurshah (20/1) took the first division of the two-mile handicap hurdle under Conor Smithers. Having his first start since November, the Aga Khan-bred Mastercraftsman gelding was always prominent and took over two out to beat Tingarran Express by six lengths.
Winning trainer Aidan Melia led up his charge and reported: “That’s his first run for me and I just freshened him up, that’s all. Michelle Connolly rang me to take a few horses, so this is great.
“I have eight in training and have plenty of spare stables. I’m 30, based in Monasterevin and have my licence about two years. I do my own thing in the yard, so am learning from my own mistakes.”
One-eyed wonder
Getaway Henry (22/1) took the second split of that 0-100 handicap under jockey Gavin Brouder. The blinkered nine-year-old, owned by the Knockgloss Racing Partnership, led before two out to score by two and a quarter lengths from Sidiriya.
Winning trainer Danny O’Leary explained: “He ran no race the last day at Limerick which we couldn’t understand, but he only has one eye and was on the inside, so I think he was doing nothing at all.
“He lost his (off) eye as a foal out in the field and my sister Christina, who bred him, tips away with him, but he ran so badly the last day that she didn’t come today!
“We are based near Freemount in north Cork. I previously worked for Gerry Cully and Michael Hourigan and we are farming, so this is a hobby.”