WILCOSDIANA provided the late Michael O’Sullivan with his first track success in the Jack Tyner Memorial Chase back in 2018, and this year’s renewal was fittingly won by his brother Alan.
Partnering Lisleigh Lad for owner/trainer Eleanor Broderick, O’Sullivan settled his mount behind the leaders.
Pulled up when last seen in the Foxhunters at Cheltenham, the 15/2 chance improved into a share of the lead six out and gained an outright advantage early in the straight.
Pushed along before the penultimate fence, where the challenging 7/4 favourite Bugs Moran blundered, he found plenty when ridden on the run-in, eventually seeing off the market leader by two and a half lengths.
“Alan gave him a cracking ride and this is a very special day for the Tyner family, so I’m delighted to be part of it. This means everything to me,” Fermoy based Broderick enthused.
Patience
O’Sullivan’s cousin Maxine had earlier guided Eyes Off Annie to a three-length win in the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Mares Maiden Hunters Chase. Trained by Ian McCarthy and owned by his wife Nicki, the Presenting seven-year-old was given a beautifully executed patient ride.
Settled towards the rear, the 7/4 favourite made gradual progress from five out and eventually got to the front on the run-in, stretching clear in the closing stages to win by three lengths.
“She had small issues which kept her off the track for a long time, but she has plenty of quality about her and has so much size and scope,” McCarthy commented.
Local luck
There was further local cheer in the John Thomas McNamara Series Maiden Hunters Chase, with Drive On Jimmey prevailing under Andy Burke-Ott for owner/trainer Pat Healy. Without a track win since September of 2002, amazingly it was a second in the space of eight days for Healy.
Left in a share of second when 7/4 favourite West Of Carrig crashed out at the third last, the Imperial Monarch eight-year-old was ridden to challenge before the next.
Edging to the front approaching the final fence, the well-supported 11/1 chance (from 25s) kept on well from there to beat Manlikemike by two-and-a-half lengths.
“My wife Grainne bred him and he’ll stay hunter chasing,” Healy, who is an uncle of Paul and Jody Townend, remarked.
WITH Rachael Blackmore and Darragh O’Keeffe in action at Fairyhouse, Mike O’Connor made the most of the opportunities presented to him.
Combining for a brace with his boss Henry de Bromhead, the 23-year-old struck first aboard Good N’ Kind in the opening Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa Adare Maiden Hurdle.
The winner of a point-to-point when in the care of Colin Motherway and second on his debut over flights at Limerick last month, the Robcour-owned six-year-old was sent off at the odds of 1/7.
Making all, he was pressed by 125/1 outsider Bitofajokelike approaching the final flight and needed to be kept up to his work on the run-in to see off that rival by a length and a quarter.
“We thought the step up to three miles would bring about improvement in him, but I had to work for it,” O’Connor disclosed.
Easy does it
The same front-running tactics were adopted by O’Connor on Coming Up Easy, as he claimed the most valuable prize on offer at this Easter Monday fixture, the Coolmore NH Sires Luxembourg Handicap Chase.
Sent off an easy to back 10/3 chance (from 15/8 early), the Anthony Head-owned seven-year-old jumped well throughout.
Pressed by 6/4 favourite Jay Pee M after two out and briefly joined from the last, he dug deep in the closing stages, going on to beat the market leader by a length and a half.
“He jumped impeccably and travelled lovely. I gave him a squeeze turning in and to be fair to him, he put his head down and galloped,” the winning rider reflected.
King settles the score
O’Connor was down the field on Mahlers Cove in the Leisure Domes Ltd Marquee Hire Handicap Hurdle, with this two-mile heat won by King Of The Bronx.
Well-supported from 12s into 4/1 joint-favouritism, the Gavin Cromwell-trained bay made smooth headway before three out and went second over the next.
Easing to the front approaching the final flight, he quickly settled matters under Shane Fitzgerald and was value for more than the winning margin of four and a quarter lengths.
“I was probably there sooner than I liked, but he did it very easily,” Fitzgerald said of the Lucky Seven Syndicate and Seven Plus One Syndicate-owned victor.
THE concluding Cork & Waterford Mares Point-To-Point INH Flat Race went the way of Miss Doyenne, who was completing a treble for Henry de Bromhead and a double for John Gleeson. Starting off for current connections after winning a point-to-point at Cragmore in January when in the care of Roger McGrath, the Doyen five-year-old was sent off at 7/2 (drifted from 15/8). Owned by Envirogreen Housing Services Ltd, the chesnut victor improved into a share of the lead with less than two furlongs to go, battling on gamely in the closing stages to see off the effort of Torpille Dagrostis by half a length. “She did that nicely and will be a nice mare for next year. Once she gets a jump in front of her again, it’ll only bring about more improvement,” Gleeson reported. Smooth success The Co Waterford pilot had earlier guided Clay Pigeons (11/4) to a smooth success in the Pegus Horse Feed Point-To-Point INH Flat Race. Making the breakthrough at Boulta in December, the Elusive Pimpernel five-year-old subsequently joined Emmet Mullins after being bought for £62,000. Coming from off the pace approaching the straight, he was cajoled along from the two-furlong pole and swept to the front inside the final 150 yards, going on to prevail by two and a half lengths. “He had been doing nice bits of work at home. John was good and confident on him and he galloped well through the line,” Mullins said of the Paul Byrne-owned bay. Coincidentally, Mullins and de Bromhead won these same races 12 months ago, with John Gleeson also doing the steering on both.