ON a fine autumnal afternoon, Damma House played host to the Kilkenny Foxhounds for an eighth straight year.
While just two lined up for the concluding six-year-old and upwards geldings maiden 12 months ago, nine faced the starter in this year’s renewal, with Cormac Abernethy’s Largy Star (2/1-5/2) coming out on top.
A solid fourth on debut at Dromahane in April when in the care of Raymond Scullion, the Blue Bresil six-year-old was given a patient ride by Oran McGill, as the front-running Occupational Force had the field well-strung out from early.
Making good progress from four out, the Largy Bloodstock-owned bay hit the front shortly after the penultimate obstacle and was pushed out in the closing stages to register a four-and-a-half-length win.
“We fancied him coming down here today. I’d say, the first day, he just lacked experience in jumping and it probably let him down,” the winning handler reported.
“I don’t have him that long and I only started training for the owners in July. I’d say we will just try and go up through the ranks with him. He’s a lovely horse and will probably come on for the run too.”
Progressing
Catalani (2/1-3/1 joint-favourite) is a horse already progressing through the grades, with this Donnchadh Doyle-trained six-year-old comfortably accounting for nine rivals in the winner of two.
While pulling up three times in succession towards the end of last season, the son of Lauro was successful on his return to action at Loughrea last month.
Racing in mid-division under Rob James and taking closer order from early on the final circuit, he made good progress to lead before two out, coming home 10 lengths clear in the colours of the Monbeg Syndicate.
“He might stay in these types of races or he could go for a point-to-point bumper or hunter chase,” Jack Foley, representing Doyle, commented. “He is progressing away and is two from two this season. He is a decent horse and Rob was happy with him.”
THE highlight of a double for Finian Maguire, Desertmore House (6/4-9/4) registered a first win since his 2023 Kerry National triumph, when prevailing narrowly in the nine-runner open.
Returning to the point-to-point fields almost four years after his debut success at Kildorrery, the Martin Brassil-trained 10-year-old raced in a share of the lead with The Bosses Oscar from flag fall.
While blundering two out and slightly hampering his aforementioned rival, the Bernard Carroll-owned victor gained a narrow advantage before the last and saw it out best from there to score by three quarters of a length.
“He looked like he was kind of losing his way a bit towards the end of last season, so we switched him to banks and he seemed to really enjoy the La Touche where he finished second,” Brassil explained.
“He’ll go back to the track now for the Risk Of Thunder in three weeks’ time and we’ll see how that goes.” Maguire registered his initial success on the Robert Tector-trained Valtteri Its James (6/1-8/1) in the opening four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Bred by Tector’s sister Emma and owned by her partner Aidan Byrne, the Poet’s Word bay finished fifth on debut at Bartlemy in May and was brought down on his return at Loughrea.
Racing in mid-division in this 11-runner heat, he moved into contention from three out and came with his challenge approaching the next. Taking over at the head of affairs shortly after that obstacle, he readily drew clear when ridden and came home eight lengths to the good.
“He had a very good run before the summer break and we thought he had improved plenty from it,” Byrne reflected.
“We bred him ourselves and hopefully we’ll sell him now and he’ll do something on the track for the mare.”
FOUR of the nine who lined up for the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden had faced off at Loughrea the previous month, with Gino Bella (3/1) ultimately upholding the form.
Third at that Co Galway venue, the Aidan Fitzgerald-trained victor was never far from the pace under Troy Walsh and improved to lead before two out.
Ridden and increasing her advantage approaching the final fence, the twice-placed track performer kept up the gallop on the run-in and was six lengths clear at the line.
“I think she is actually a very good mare,” Fitzgerald said of the Cobajay Syndicate-owned bay. “She has good track form and ran very well first time out when third at Ballinrobe. She’ll return to the track now and probably go back over hurdles.”
Too good
Double Indemnity (4/1-3/1) was another to score in decisive fashion, with this £12,000 Goffs May Store Sale purchase proving much too good for his rivals in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The Colin Bowe-trained victor improved to dispute the lead from three out and gained an outright advantage after the next. Soon asserting under Barry O’Neill, he ultimately eased to a 10-length win in the colours of Milestone Bloodstock Ltd.
“He got a cut on his knee last year and that delayed him getting out,” Bowe revealed. “He stepped forward nicely from the first day and he’ll be sold now.”
Horse to follow
King Of Westeros (C. Bowe): The stable second string on jockey bookings, this Westerner bay made eye-catching late progress and showed signs of greenness when veering left after two out, ultimately finishing a never-nearer second. Sure to come on plenty for this initial experience, it’ll come as no surprise if he manages to go a place better on his next start.