THE newcomer Hurricane Mick (4/1 - 5/1) impressed at the Doneraile Harriers fixture at Dromahane on Sunday by posting a taking success under his handler Mick Goff’s son Harry in the first division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Hurricane Mick, a half-brother to Hurricane Pat who was also started off by the Wexford-based handler in points as a four-year-old, made smooth progress to lead from after four out.
The son of Free Eagle had just been joined by Business Class and Velvet Outlaw when the latter fell at the last. Hurricane Mick then rose his effort by mastering Business Class to score by two lengths.
Goff senior, who also sent out Techno Kid to win the five-year-old geldings’ maiden at Castletown-Geoghegan, reported of his wife Caitriona’s Hurricane Mick: “My horses have been sick for the past while and they have only come back to form the past two weeks.
“We were expecting a huge run from this horse and he has a big engine. Harry said that he was very green when he hit the front and he’ll probably be sold now.”
Wexford winners
There was another Wexford success in the second division of this contest as the Darragh Berry-trained newcomer The Big Berk (4/1 - 5/1) recorded a clear-cut success in the hands of Joey Dunne.
The son of Berkshire, representing the Run For Fun Partnership, made his way to the front after three out and swept clear before the last to dispose of fellow debutant Without Cause by five lengths in a race that was dominated by newcomers.
Current championship leader Derek O’Connor brought his seasonal tally to 33, one clear of closest pursuer Barry O’Neill, following his success on the Michael Mangan-trained Ludois (3/1 - 4/1 co-favourite) in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. The son of Montmartre took the eye in fourth spot after four out and moved closer before the second-last. A late May foal who was purchased for €20,000 at the 2024 Goffs Arkle sale, he edged into a narrow advantage on take-off at the final fence, and was always travelling marginally better than Lincoln Mill on the flat, as he asserted to beat Louis Archdeacon’s charge by a length.
“He’s a fine, big scopey horse that was still a big baby when we ran him in Kildorrery,” disclosed handler Mangan’s son Gerry of the Happy Valley Syndicate-owned Ludois.
“We’ve been waiting for a bit of better ground for him since, and he’ll hopefully be sold now.”
THIS was a day that will live long in the memory of 22-year-old Evan Daly from Dungourney as he partnered a first winner aboard owner/trainer Pat Healy’s Julie Liath (6/1 - 4/1) in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.
The 11-year-old always travelled well towards the rear of mid-division on the outer, and she moved through to dispute the running with Whermyrosemarygoes and Echoes Of Jane after the fourth last of the 14 obstacles.
The trio were still locked together when Echoes Of Jane fell two out.
Then Whermyreosemarygoes blundered at the last forfeiting whatever chance she may have held, the daughter of Sans Frontieres was driven clear on the flat to oblige by seven lengths.
“It’s great to give Evan his first winner. Patrick Verling and he ride out for me at home and they then share the rides between them,” said Healy.
The Midleton-based operator remarked of Julie Liath, homebred by his wife Grainne: “She’s a lovely mare that can be a bit difficult to manage at home and she never runs a bad race. It’s really great to get her to win. “
Pros And Cons justified strong market support (5/2 - 5/4 favourite) under his owner/trainer Alex Ott’s son Luke Burke Ott in the adjacent hunts maiden.
Pros And Cons always travelled well and the five-year-old moved to the front before two out.
Whilst blundering here, the son of Proconsul was always in command thereafter and he duly returned the winner. four lengths clear of The Gallan.
His Churchtown-based breeder Noel O’Brien on hand to join in the post-race celebrations.
SAM Curling increased his advantage in the handlers’ championship by recording an across-the-card treble, also being on the mark with Vicomte Le Brave at Tullaherin, and he instigated his Dromahane brace courtesy of newcomer Music Maker (5/4 - 7/4 favourite) in the four-year-old mares’ maiden.
The Mahler-sired Music Maker, a €35,000 Derby sale graduate, was sent to the front by owner Trish Hyde’s grandson Harry Swan after three out.
She was marginally faster away from the final fence than runner-up Jolie Etoile and then valiantly fought off Robert Tector’s charge by a short-head, the pair both quickening appreciably on the flat. Music Maker is now likely to be sold.
The Skehanagh Stables operator signed off with Wrappedupinmay (1/2 - 4/7 favourite) in the novice riders’ open.Wrappedupinay, a former dual track winner for Paul Nicholls who was registering a third points success of the season here, was ridden by Nicole Lockhead Anderson.
Still a mere eight-year-old, the Mayhem In March Syndicate-owned Wrappedupinmay made all the running to beat the gallant Our Story by two lengths to tee up a possible outing to Punchestown for next week’s Champion Hunters Chase, provided that ground conditions are on the easy side.
Horse to follow
Business Class (Tom Keating): Having unseated two out on his Ballyragget debut last month, this son of Old Persian went down fighting when beaten two lengths into second in the first division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The late May foal should have little difficulty in developing into a track winner on this evidence.