THE Ward Union hosted their annual fixture at Oldtown on Saturday, a week later than originally scheduled due to the relentless rain of recent weeks.
Heavy underfoot conditions and the postponement may have contributed to the small fields, but there was still competitive racing on the day.
Finny Maguire continued his excellent run of form in what is his best season to date on the point-to-point circuit, as the Pat Doyle-trained debutant Rubyball (5/2 – 7/2) provided the opening leg of a double for the rider.
The striking grey son of No Risk At All, racing in the colours of Walter Connors, initially tracked the leaders before moving upsides the favourite, jumping and travelling effortlessly throughout.
Joined in a three-way battle on the run to the final two obstacles, he produced two slick leaps and displayed a sharper turn of foot than his rivals, quickening to the line to deny Nosnowhere by four lengths.
“He’s a lovely horse,” Jack Doyle remarked. “He’s a big, raw horse, but we think a lot of him. He’s still green enough in front, so he’s entitled to improve further, and he’ll now be offered for sale.”
Quirck-fire double
Kill Vanhowe (4/6 favourite) justified favouritism to complete a quick double for Maguire in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden for Kieran Burke and Tony Martin.
Narrowly denied on debut at Cragmore in January, the son of Ivanhowe made a forward move after the third last to join the principals and he caught the eye travelling ominously well into the home straight.
He showed slight signs of greenness, but when challenged from the back of the final obstacle, he picked up and stayed on well to fend off newcomer Village Court by a length and a half.
Martin commented: “I expected a big performance from him as he was just denied the last day.
“He’ll be for sale, but I really like the horse and would be keen to keep him in the yard.”
DIFFERENT Story (5/2 – 2/1) proved to be a class apart from her rivals to land the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden for the Blackhall Stables Partnership and handler Paul Martin Pierce.
Five mares went to post, and it was only Queen Lily who was able to finish with the impressive winner, albeit some 64 lengths in arrears.
The taking debutante daughter of Poet’s Word, a €25,000 Goffs Arkle sale purchase, tracked the leaders under Luke Murphy before moving into the lead and quickened easily into the straight to score emphatically, easing clear of the sole other finisher. It was a striking first effort, and she should be capable of adding to this initial success in due course.
Andy Pierce stated: “We were expecting a big performance coming here, so we’re delighted she produced that today. She’ll be offered for sale now.”
Fortunate success
The winners’ contest saw Fortune Lad (5/4) gain a well-deserved victory in winners’ company under Declan Lavery, having finished runner-up in both previous starts at the level.
Prominent throughout, the six-year-old son of Soldier Of Fortune quickened alongside Sharp As Glass from the entrance to the straight, brushing aside the remainder of the field with ease.
The pair battled gamely to the penultimate, before the winner utilised his sharper turn of foot and stayed on strongly to score by two and a half lengths.
This was a likeable performance from a horse who looks sure to continue progressing through the ranks and should be capable of adding further success during the spring for John Hegarty and Jennifer O’Kane.
Long lay-off
Let’s Go Champ (3/1 – 4/1) was appearing in a point-to-point for the first time since winning his maiden at Bartlemy in May 2019. The 11-year-old son of Jeremy has since enjoyed a successful track career, notably landing a Grade 3 chase at the Punchestown Festival in 2024 for Henry de Bromhead.
Returning from a 290-day lay-off in the open, he was given a patient ride by Sophie Carter in the colours of John Duggan, making a forward move after the third last to join the leaders and catching the eye on the run to the penultimate.
He soon picked up and stayed on gamely to fend off Stuzzikini, and on this performance should provide his connections with plenty of fun in this sphere, while also looking competitive in spring hunter chases.
Carter remarked, “It wasn’t his ideal ground, and he’ll improve for the run. We were just hoping to get placed, but to win was even better.”
THE older geldings’ contest added to Ian McCarthy’s remarkable strike rate this season, as Petersham Palace (5/4 – 4/6 favourite) justified his position at the top of the market to bring up the handler’s eighth winner from just 10 runners.
In a steadily run older maiden with only three runners, Nicki McCarthy’s well-bred newcomer out-sprinted the field to record a five-length victory over Rock On Richie, under a ride from Eoin Mahon.
This debutant son of Casamento made the running alongside the eventual runner-up, but it was the winner who showed an impressive turn of foot, sprinting clear from the back of the last.
“He’s a lovely horse, and we really liked him all along,” McCarthy commented. “He’s come to himself the last couple of months, and I’d imagine he’ll be sold now.”
Horse to follow
Village Court (P. Buchanan): A debutant son of Affinisea, he shaped well against a more experienced rival. The €11,500 purchase was held up early, latched onto the leaders four-out getting on terms at the last. He stayed on well in defeat and looks capable of making amends for this defeat.