LOCAL success shone throughout the card, with the Miguel Gunn-trained Lair Du Laube (5/1 - 6/1) providing his handler’s daughter Chloe with a day she will never forget when partnering the son of Buck’s Boum to a first career success in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Hailing from Mullinahone in Co Tipperary, Gunn had honed her skills riding in open lightweights in recent seasons and was seen to good effect as she carried her mother Tessa’s colours to a memorable family victory.
Making his first start for new connections, Lair Du Laube appeared to come under pressure in the back straight but rallied gamely, producing a renewed effort in the closing stages to head debutant runner-up Thatildojon and ultimately win going away at the finish.
“That’s Chloe’s first winner, so it’s a great result for the family,” commented the winning handler. “She’s 21 years old and has gained valuable experience riding our open horse, and I was delighted to put her up on this lad today.
“I bought him from Denis Murphy at a horse-in-training sale for €11,000 and, after winning today, the plan is ideally to sell him on again.”
Merrigan off the mark
This year’s renewal of the mares’ maiden will live long in the memory of Bansha native Tristan Merrigan, who registered his first success in the saddle when steering the well-supported Bansha Blue (1/1 - 5/4 favourite) to an impressive 17-length victory in what appeared a very smart performance.
Trained by her rider’s stepfather Danny O’Connell Jnr, the daughter of Blue Bresil jumped and travelled with great style and easily took up the running after four out before bounding clear in the straight, eventually sealing victory with a sound jump at the final fence.
Welcomed back into the winners’ enclosure by owners The Galtee Mountain Boys Syndicate, she looked a mare of real quality, and her handler was understandably delighted afterwards.
“I bought her at the sales from Paul Cashman of Rathbarry Stud,” revealed O’Connell Jnr. “She showed us plenty over the last couple of weeks, so we said we’d come back here to our local track and give Tristan his first winner, which is very important. She is for sale now.”
Local luck
Further success for local connections soon followed when the John Joseph Hanlon-trained Barrow Ranger (1/1 - 6/4 favourite) justified market support in the confined maiden for winning owner Bill Hanly.
A long-serving chairman of the Scarteen Foxhounds, Hanly had also sponsored the contest and was landing the race for a second year in succession.
Having travelled well under Cal Shine, Barrow Ranger edged closer on the final circuit before moving into the lead approaching the turn for home. The five-year-old was forced to dig deep to repel a late challenge from Glenmalure Flyer, who closed rapidly before the final fence, but he ultimately prevailed by a neck in what proved to be the finish of the day.
“He was the best horse, and his previous form on the page suggested he was good enough to win that race,” said Hanlon. “He’ll run in a winners of one in a month’s time, and I’d be confident he’ll win again.”
THE Gary Murphy-trained Catchem Black (7/2 - 5/1) made a striking first impression when landing the opening four-year-old maiden. Travelling strongly throughout, he drew clear in commanding fashion from the penultimate fence to score by an emphatic 16 lengths under Shane O’Rourke for owners the Turbine Syndicate.
The son of Affinisea shares his sire with former stable graduate and recent Grade 1 Savills Chase winner Affordale Fury, and speaking afterwards Murphy made clear his confidence beforehand.
“I bought him as a foal for €15,000, and his homework was unbelievable all along. I expected him to do that today; he’s a great-moving horse and as honest as the day is long. He’s for sale now.”
Smart performance
Another particularly smart performance on the afternoon came in the open lightweight for novice riders, where the rapidly progressive Beau Walking (5/4 - 6/4) produced the jumping display of the day from the front to score for leading handler Sam Curling. In doing so, he secured a third success of the season, having been turned out just seven days after his previous victory in a winners of two at Ballyvodock.
Once again partnered by Nicole Lockhead-Anderson, who was registering a fifth success from just nine rides in what is shaping up to be an excellent campaign, the eight-year-old son of Walk In The Park travelled strongly into the straight before seeing off the challenge of In Excelsis Deo on the run-in to score for winning owner and long-time Skehanagh supporter John O’Leary.
Speaking afterwards, the winning rider was quick to acknowledge the continued support of Curling. “I won on him last week at Ballyvodock and to follow up in an open seven days later is super,” said Lockhead-Anderson.
“That’s my fifth winner of the season; Sam has been very supportive of me all year, and it’s great to be able to repay him with these winners.”
THE concluding older geldings’ maiden saw the Enda Bolger-trained Keep On Dreaming (5/4 - 6/4 favourite) make all under a fine front-running ride from Luke Kelleher, who was registering an initial winner in the famous green and gold colours of J.P. McManus.
Setting a relentless gallop from flag fall, the six-year-old son of Westerner quickly put his rivals under pressure, and such was the ferocity of the early pace that he ultimately proved the sole finisher in the nine-runner field, with his only remaining challenger, Golden Photo, pulling up before the final fence.
“He likes his own way, and that’s the way to ride him,” revealed Bolger afterwards. “Going forward, he might take in a winners’ race, and we could have a look at a hunter chase.
“The Ladies Cup will be his main objective down the road. Luke comes into me to ride out; he’s a super guy and comes from a great family, so everyone’s happy.”
Horse to follow
Thatildojon (E. Bolger): is a newcomer son of Vendangeur out of a Milan mare who ran an excellent race on debut and was only touched off by a more experienced winner. Given this initial experience and with natural progression, he should have no problem shedding his maiden tag in the near future.