THE winners’ of one contest proved to be the highlight of the day as Dromleigh (2/1 - 5/2 joint-favourite), who was trained locally by Seamus Murnane, gained a well-deserved victory.
His partner, David Doyle, executed a simple but very effective front-running ride to land an all-the-way success.
The gelding had his rivals out of their comfort zone from the outset and never took his foot off the gas.
A son of Ovacango, Dromleigh jumped fluently and travelled with real purpose throughout the race, steadily increasing the tempo before pulling well clear to score by an authoritative ten lengths over Rilo Tang.
“He deserved it as he ran some very good races without winning,” a delighted Murnane added.
“The form was there from Dromahane. The plan is to go for a winners’ of two race en route to the banks’ race in Punchestown.”
Crystal making Waves
The opening race of the day was a five-year-old mares’ maiden, and Crystal Waves (1/1 - 6/4 favourite) produced an emphatic display to justify her position as the market leader and run out an emphatic six-length winner.
The Siobhan Madden-owned daughter of Crystal Ocean had to be encouraged three fences from home to join the pace setters.
She took it up before the last before asserting on the flat, quickly putting daylight between herself and the runner-up Found It.
The victory continued the excellent recent form of the Derek O’Connor and Sam Curling partnership, a combination that has been enjoying frequent success since the beginning of the season.
“They went a good gallop, and she always tries her heart out,” the in-form Curling said. “It was a lovely introduction the last day so we were hopeful. She only does enough. It’s my first winner for the owner, and she will be for sale now.”
Thriller
The five-year-old geldings’ maiden proved to be a thrilling contest, with Moltezuma (1/1 - 9/4 favourite) showing real grit and determination to battle back and regain the advantage after appearing beaten at the final fence.
The well-bred son of Jukebox Jury was briefly headed at the last, but dug deep under a determined ride from Derek O’Connor to prevail by half a length and complete a double for his decorated rider.
The victory marked a successful outing for the Ellmarie Holden and Derek O’Connor combination.
“He won well and is a tough horse,” Holden said of the €80,000 Arkle Sale purchase that ran in the colours of her mother Catherine.
“He was too immature last year after we bought him. We were quite hopeful coming here today. He will be for sale now.”
ONE of the loudest cheers of the day greeted Ella Shanahan, who partnered her first-ever point-to-point winner when steering In Excelsis Deo (4/1 - 5/1) to a brave success in a tightly-contested open.
In a race that only attracted three participants, there was a very steady pace early on as they bypassed fences one and two on all circuits due to the low-lying sun.
The Enda Bolger-trained runner showed admirable courage, as he stayed on strongly after the final fence to fend off the long-odds-on favourite Its On The Line by half a length.
“It’s great, I have to thank my friend Mr McManus as this horse was a present from him for the lads to ride out at home,” Bolger said.
“It’s a nice one from that point of view, and we’re delighted for Ella.
“We will probably go back to the track when there is some decent spring ground.”
The older mares’ maiden resulted in a first victory for the Jack Bennett and Cal Shine partnership as Start In The West (4/1) won with a fair bit of authority.
Polished fencing
A daughter of Westerner, the mare produced a polished jumping display from start to finish, scarcely putting a foot wrong throughout the contest.
Always travelling smoothly, Start In The West moved into a commanding position approaching the final fence, and a swift leap at that obstacle saw her quickly draw clear to record a decisive six-length victory over Our Haybob.
A pleased owner-handler explained: “She had a lovely run in Moig South. Her jumping was super slick today. Her full-brother is Needs Must, who won for Gordon Elliott the other day.
“Her run in Dromahane came too quickly, so it was her effort two runs ago that made us hopeful today. She will go to the sales.”
THE older geldings’ maiden saw the Abbey Throughbreds Partnership-owned Black Dakota (9/4 favourite) take full advantage of late drama to record a six-length victory under Andy Burke-Ott for trainer Michael Winters.
The contest looked set for a thrilling conclusion until the eventual winner’s closest pursuer, Everest The Brave, came down at the final fence when mounting a strong challenge.
Having been left with a clear advantage, the seven-year-old kept on resolutely to cross the line six lengths clear of a much-improved Grandorado.
Winters was already thinking about his next assignment for the Westerner gelding, who was unlucky to fall at the penultimate fence in Dromahane just under a month earlier when holding the slight advantage.
“He was unlucky to fall in Dromahane when going well,” he said. “He is improving away with each run. He will win three more point-to-points before the season is out.”
Horse to follow
Colegram (P. M. Pierce): Daughter of Buck’s Boum, ran with great credit in six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden. This effort will improve her fitness, and she appears capable of losing her maiden tag.