THE last of three fixtures at Lisronagh this season attracted a mammoth entry of 238, and for the second day in a row, a nine-race programme ensued.
While missing the autumn campaign through injury, Jack Hendrick has been making up for lost time since his February return. Registering a treble to bring his season tally to 12, the Mayglass native combined with Denis Murphy for two of those wins.
The pair claimed the opening division of the four-year-old mares’ maiden with Ilians Way (6/4 – 3/1 joint-favourite). A €38,000 Goffs Arkle Sale purchase, she improved into a narrow lead approaching the last and had her task simplified by the exit of nearest pursuer Techno Dj.
Still very much in contention at the time, Tanga Mugi fell at the penultimate fence, with the grey victor ultimately easing to a six-length win.
“She was always going to win and Jack said the same,” Murphy reflected. “She’s a big shell of a lady and you’ll hear a lot about her. She’ll head on to the sale at Punchestown next week if she’s alright after this.”
Double up
Murphy’s own colours were also carried to victory by fellow newcomer Walkonseas (6/4 – 2/1 favourite) in the second division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Given a patient ride, the €85,000 Tattersalls Derby Sale graduate made progress from four out and gained an outright advantage on the run to the last, keeping on well in the closing stages to score by four lengths.
“He is a class act and will be better dropping back in trip. He is a very fast horse and please God he’ll go to Punchestown now as well,” Murphy, who also registered a double at Tattersalls, said.
Second division
Hendrick teamed up with owner/handler Robert Tector to complete his treble on Lastbutnotleased (2/1 - 9/4) in the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
A solid fourth on debut in November before falling when last seen at Curraghmore, the Harzand bay improved to lead before two out and was ridden clear on the approach to the last, ultimately easing to a 10-length win.
“He is a big raw horse and just needed plenty of time. He will head on to the sales now and someone will get a nice horse,” Tector commented.
BENNY Walsh teamed up with his nephew Barry Stone to register a double, which was initiated by Sarahs Lawn (4/1) in the second division of the four-year-old mares’ maiden.
Fourth on debut at Borris last month, the Yeats bay made a move to the front three out and had all her rivals in trouble from early in the straight, eventually coming home four lengths to the good.
“She had a dull coat going to Borris, and we knew she wouldn’t really like the softer ground. We gave her a couple of weeks off after that,” Jenny Walsh, successful owner and wife of the winning trainer, explained.
“We might go to the track with her now, we’ll keep the options open.”
Completed
Owned in partnership by Busher Bloodstock and Crossgales Stables, Northern Singer (5/1 – 6/1) completed the brace for Walsh and Stone, as she made all in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.
Out of a sister to Shannon Rock, a Grade 1 winner over fences in France, the Richard Busher bred bay jumped well throughout and had matters under control approaching the straight, easing to a facile 16-length win.
Sales bound
“We’ve always liked her,” Jenny Walsh reported. “We said to Barry that if she takes a tug, to just let her go ahead because she is very straightforward and easy. She’ll go on to the sales now.”
The Yvonne Cleary-owned Charles The Bold (4/1 - 6/1) claimed the 12-runner concluding six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden
Ridden and taking over from the always prominent Pacheco on the run to the last, the Mahler six-year-old kept on well in the closing stages to beat his rival by three lengths.
Evan Nugent, who was registering his second success of the weekend after his Ballysteen win on Tullybeg, was aboard the successful John Staunton-trained bay.
TIED on 10 winners apiece, title rivals Nicole Lockhead Anderson and Emily Costello went head-to-head in the lady riders’ open.
While Magic Sadler (1/1 – 11/10 favourite) attempted to make all under Costello, he couldn’t hold off the Lockhead Anderson-ridden Beau Walking (1/1 – 6/4) after two out, and there was three lengths between them on crossing the line.
Registering his fifth win of the season, the Sam Curling-trained victor is owned by John O’Leary.
“There is four weekends left now, and I can’t be more grateful to Sam for his support,” Lockhead Anderson, who moved one ahead of Costello in the race to be crowned champion lady rider, enthused.
Newcomer Kateswayornoway (5/1 - 4/1) impressed in the nine-runner first division of the five-year-old geldings maiden.
Ridden and owned by Chris O’Donovan and trained by his father John, the €14,000 Goffs Arkle Sale graduate made virtually all and skipped clear before two out, eventually easing to a 12-length win.
Fancied
“We fancied him, but we haven’t had a winner in two years, so the confidence levels were a bit down,” the successful owner/rider revealed.
“He has come into himself massively in the last six weeks and just needed time.”
There was a much more dramatic conclusion to the opening division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden, with the Monbeg Partnership-owned Beatonthestreet (3/1) ultimately coming out on top.
Home Preserves led narrowly on the approach to the final fence but blundered and unseated Alan Harney, hampering Measure Of A Man in the process.
The Sean Doyle-trained victor was left in front and despite being slightly inconvenienced, he still came home four lengths to the good under Darragh Higgins.
Doyle was completing a cross-card treble, having earlier claimed both the opening two races at Dromahane.
Horse to follow
Measure Of A Man (G. L. Murphy): This Sholokhov was prominent throughout and while it appeared he might fade when ridden from the third last, he stuck to his task in the straight to finish second. Taking a significant step forward from his debut, it’ll be interesting to see if he can progress.