THE second day of the East Antrim Harriers Easter Fixture took place on Monday and, despite a modest 32 runners across the card, a large crowd turned out to watch the action unfold.
The opening race, a four-year-old auction maiden for horses bought for under €25,000 as unraced three-year-olds, saw just five runners, four of them debutants.
But it was the Matty Flynn O’Connor-trained Max’d Out (7/4 – 3/1) who made his experience count under jockey Brian Lawless, powering to a six-and-a-half-length win over Greer Hill.
A son of Maxios, out of a half-sister to Kirkistown maiden winner Buckna, Max’d Out tracked the pace before quickening away after the penultimate fence and staying on strongly to the line.
“He did that well,” the winning handler said. “He was stopped in Dromahane last week with a mile to go but has been working well at home. Hopefully, we can now find a new home for him.”
Stellar weekend
Tamlaght Eyes (5/4 favourite) continued a stellar weekend for the Caherty Stable team by landing her third point-to-point win in the mares’ winner-of-two contest.
After a mistake at the second-last, the daughter of Doyen looked in trouble, but she responded well under pressure, rallied to the last, and stayed on strongly to beat Bayonetta (7/2–4/1) by three lengths.
Trainer Gerald Quinn said: “She had to be tough. She got in deep to the second-last but was very game. We can’t even turn her out because she just keeps jumping out! We had a foal out of her two years ago.”
This win brought up a third success of the two-day fixture for the formidable combination of Quinn, owner Philip McBurney and rider Noel McParlan, whilst it also secured McParlan the leading rider title across both fixtures at the venue.
THE second mares’ contest of the day went the way of Peppers Corner (7/4 – 2/1 favourite), a home-bred for Anita Acheson. The daughter of Diamond Boy, who was narrowly denied on her initial foray at Loughbrickland, got her due rewards here by shedding her maiden tag in style.
Bowling along in her customary front-running style this victor is quite the spectacle showcasing her slick jumping technique, she had her rivals under pressure from an early stage.
Victory never looked in doubt as she asserted turning for home and pulled clear to win by a commanding six lengths from Currish Lane, in the hands of Adam Ryan,
Winning trainer Eddie Power commented: “She’s a nice filly who does everything well. She wouldn’t be mad about that ground, but she handled it. She’ll stay in mares’ winners-of-one and two races this season, and we might give her a spin in the Downpatrick point-to-point bumper. She’ll hopefully win a few on the track in time.”
Consistency is key
The older geldings’ maiden went the way of consistent performer Squire Ohara (2/1 - 5/2 joint-favourite), a seven-year-old son of Milan, who got off the mark after a string of placed efforts.
Tracking the pace, Aidan Coonan produced him with a perfectly-timed challenge at the last. The gelding stayed on strongly to defeat Braidside Boy (3/1 – 7/2) by a length for owner Paddy Blake.
“He travelled very well, I was exactly where I wanted to be,” said Coonan. “They started to come back to me, and he just kept going. We’ll look at the Farmers Race [Bishopscourt Cup] at Punchestown, but we’ll see how he comes out of this.”
Leader is still soaring
Despite the open contest attracting just two runners, it delivered a thrilling spectacle as Ballyphilip and Winged Leader (4/6 – 8/11 favourite) renewed their rivalry in a rematch from Loughbrickland.
The ever-admirable Winged Leader, partnered as usual by Barry O’Neill, meant business from the drop of the flag.
On this occasion, the reigning champion refused to let Ballyphilip dictate proceedings as he had when defeating him last time.
O’Neill set a searching gallop from the outset and, when asked for an effort from the back of the third-last, true to his trademark grit he continued to respond generously and ultimately powered clear to win by an impressive eight and a half lengths for owners John Hegarty and Jenny O’Kane.
“Barry said he was feeling last weekend a little bit, and he just didn’t travel as well as he normally would,” Christie said. “But he is so tough and genuine. At 11 years old, what more can you ever ask for in a horse.”
Winged Leader looks poised to write his name into the point-to-point history books as he moves within one victory away from his bid to equal, and perhaps surpass, Still William as the most successful horse in the history of the point-to-point sphere.
Connorhill leads home a one-two for owner Dennison
THERE is nothing quite like landing a winner on home turf, and landowner Wilson Dennison enjoyed a memorable result in the adjacent winners’ contest, filling the top two spots.
Connorhill (3/1 – 11/4), a five-year-old maiden by Walk In The Park, led home former stablemate Carrhill, who battled all the way to the line but was ultimately denied by a length and a half. The €38,000 foal purchase brought solid placed form into the race and seemed to relish the softer underfoot conditions.
The race appeared to be his for the taking when Cadoudal Saint came to grief at the second-last, though Connorhill was already travelling strongly under Eoin Mahon and seemed to have the measure of his rivals. He went on to open a commanding lead of around 10 lengths, but idled once in front, allowing Carrhill to reduce the gap and make the final margin appear closer than it had been for most of the run-in.
Nonetheless, this was an impressive performance from the well-related victor, who is out of a dual-winning Old Vic mare and is trained by Cormac Abernethy, who said: “I love getting a winner around Wilson’s home track. I thought he had a great chance coming here, I’ve always really liked the horse. He’s still quite green when he’s left in front, but to be fair to him, he was tough today.
“This is my first full season with a handler’s licence, and he’s now my third winner for Wilson, along with plenty of placed horses, so things are starting to go well.”
Horse to Follow
Braidside Boy (G. Quinn): He was having his first start in 744 days, having been last seen pulling up at this venue. Given the significant layoff, this was a highly creditable performance and he should improve for the outing.