LAST season’s Stayers’ Hurdle-winning colours of Sean O’Driscoll were carried to success at Clonmel on Thursday, where City Of Cork (5/1) landed the opening two-mile, one-furlong Crottys Lake Maiden Hurdle for trainer Joseph O’Brien and jockey J.J. Slevin.
The Westerner-gelding chased the leaders and, having progressed to lead at the last, made an error at that final obstacle before scoring by four lengths from World As One.
Afterwards, Slevin stated: “He ran a lovely race the first day at Navan, when he was a little keen, and then had a few goodish bumper runs. He had good ground and a good pace today, which helped, as I wanted to get him to relax and jump.
“His dam is a sister to Home By The Lee and that mare was good as well, but unfortunately got hurt. Sean has been a lucky owner and, hopefully, he’ll have more luck with this one.”
Learning on the job
Ex-hunter chaser Kings Jet (9/2) resumed winning ways in the William Hill Challenge Series Handicap Chase over two miles, five furlongs, scoring for trainer Cormac Farrell and jockey Ricky Doyle.
Pulled up in Cheltenham last March, Kings Jet had fallen at Listowel last month, but jumped well here and scored by three and three-quarter lengths from Ceroc. Farrell reported: “It has taken him a while to get his act together and is finally getting the hang of things. Even though he is six, there is plenty more to come, as he is still learning.
“This is great, as he is owned by myself and a few friends (Nice But Syndicate). Hopefully, he will progress from here.”
WILLIE Mullins and Paul Townend were on the mark with La Note Verte (1/10 favourite), who completed a hat-trick of consecutive wins, in the Suir Blueway Mares Chase over two and a quarter miles.
Carrying the colours of Isaac Souede and Simon Munir, Townend made all on the six-year-old mare, who won by 11 lengths from Littlebiggie.
Townend said: “She jumped to her left at plenty of the obstacles, as she was on her own, but it really was a case about just getting her around.
“She has been very well placed and has settled down a lot from where she was at the beginning of her career. She has improved plenty for chasing and will have that experience and race-fitness now, when the others start coming out.”
Following up
Mullins’ brother Tom Mullins himself landed the concluding Clonmel Oil Chase Day November 5 Handicap Chase with Mount Shenshan (3/1 favourite) under jockey Sean Cleary-Farrell.
Having scored over hurdles here on October 1st, she followed up with a six-and-a-half-length success from Gortmore Lady.
Mullins mentioned: “She was down at a winnable mark and it is grand to get a good 7lb claimer like Sean, who has really acclimatised with her. Getting her to settle is a big thing and we’ll either go for another chase or hurdle next.”
Super sub
Jockey Mike O’Connor filled in for suspended Darragh O’Keeffe on Wicked Pleasure (15/8) in the two-and-a-half-mile Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle, scoring for trainer Henry de Bromhead. The Alan Halsall-owned mare got the better of Red Acres Georgie (5/4 favourite) in the home straight, with the pair pulling 19 lengths clear of the third.
Afterwards, de Bromhead said: “She was tough today. The other mare really stayed at it and our lady really toughed it out. We hoped she’d run well today, we knew she had improved for Roscommon.
“I think she could go up in trip. It’s great for Mike, he’s a great man to have on our side. He’s a big team player, so I’m delighted for him.”
SHARK Hanlon’s Mother Ship (10/1) signed off for the year with success in the two-and-a-half-mile Mahon Falls Novice Handicap Hurdle, scoring for the Give Me A Name Syndicate and jockey Harry Sexton.
Held up in rear, Sexton produced Mother Ship to lead at the second last, before beating Beyond Forgiveness by nine lengths. Hanlon stated: “That is great as it is probably her last run this year, because she likes nice ground. Paddy (son) is in England, but it was he who gave Harry the instructions and rang me afterwards, as I was leaving the stands.
“It is great for these owners, a seven-member syndicate from four different counties, as they have been patient.”
Tessa off the mark
Amateur jockey Tessa Condon registered a first success in the two-mile, one-furlong Kilclooney Woods (QR) Handicap Hurdle, steering veteran Lake Chad (25/1) to win for trainer Philip Fenton and owner Eileen Moore.
In notching a seventh success, 11-year-old Lake Chad was held up by Condon, who produced him with perfect timing to lead at the last and score by a half length from Dark Lieutenant.
Delighted Condon, from Co Cork and a sister of jockey Richie Condon and cousin to retired Davy Condon, said: “It’s great to get this first winner on the board and I’ve never felt anything like it. It is brilliant and all credit goes to Philip, who has been nothing but good to me.”
Fenton added: “Tessa is a great girl, has a great interest and it is great to get a winner for both myself and herself.
“The plan had been to go point-to-pointing Lake Chad for both Tessa and another girl to ride, but he wasn’t qualified as he had won this year. We switched back to hurdles and it is great that it worked out.” Phidelma Elvin, rider of Volez Vous, was handed a two-day suspension concerning her use of the whip in the closing stages.