A PLEASANT day on the rolling hills of Armagh attracted a large crowd who were on hand to witness the formidable Winged Leader (1/2 favourite) pass the post in front for the 40th time in his career.
David Christie’s stalwart grabbed the bull by the horns from the outset of the open, and always seemed to be saving a bit for himself, as Barry O’Neill kept him up to his work for over half a circuit.
The son of Winged Love pulled out more every time he was asked, and even when his lead was diminishing at the top of the straight, the veteran went again to cement his fifth win over this course-and-distance.
Owned by John Hegarty and Jennifer O’Kane, he scored by a cosy two and three-quarter lengths from Gold Cup Bailly.
A delighted Barry O’Neill stated: “I was never worried. I got up on him, and he was as fresh as ever. He’s a credit to David and his team. He’s like us all, probably getting a bit cuter with time. He saves away for himself, but every time something comes to him, he has loads left.”
Competitive renewal
The four-year-old maiden contest is run over two and a half miles at this track, and in a competitive renewal, Blue Rebel (11/4 - 10/3) showed a nice turn of foot to win by twonand three-quarter lengths.
The son of Blue Bresil was purchased for €26,000 from the Tattersalls Derby Sale by the Monbeg syndicate. Settled in mid-division early on, this gelding made smooth progress after three out and timed his challenge until the approach to the final fence.
Although upsides the eventual final-fence faller, Orchard County, Donnchadh Doyle’s charge was taken to be gaining the upper hand at that stage, and he kept on strongly to the line.
“I thought the boys got at it plenty early, and I just followed them into the straight,” in-form winning rider Brian Lawless said.
“When I asked him, he picked up well and won snug at the line. I was always happy, travelled and jumped everywhere. He’ll head to Cheltenham now.”
Galway journey
Robyn O Faolain (5/2 - 11/4) vindicated John Staunton’s journey from Galway by winning the mares’ maiden in game fashion.
This daughter of Yorgunnabelucky made virtually all, but she was joined by Inventing Anna on the front end before the fourth last, and her jumping did falter slightly; however, with a good leap at two out, she carried her momentum forward.
Darragh Allen’s mount dug deep into her reserves to gain an advantage early in the straight, and she managed to last home after that hard-fought battle.
“She’s tough as nails,” Staunton reported. “If you’re not tough around here, you won’t get up that hill. She belongs to a friend of mine, Philip Whelan, he might like to go for the Gain Mares’ Final or something like that with her.”
GERALD QUINN and Noel McParlan combined for a double on the card, with their first winner coming in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, with Lauvergnat (4/1 - 10/3 favourite).
The son of Estejo atoned for his debut non-completion at Tattersalls. That came during a down period for the Quinn stable, although confidence behind this gelding never wavered.
Initially intending on making the running, he was headed after the eighth fence and was duly taken back. He gradually reeled in the eventual second to hit the front after two out and quickly went clear.
“We loved him from day one,” enthused Quinn of the Philip McBurney-owned gelding. “He was very disappointing in Tattersalls; our horses were just under the weather a bit, but we’ve made a few changes, and hopefully we’re on the up again.
“They seem a lot better in their coats now, and he certainly seemed a healthy horse coming here today. We didn’t think he’d be beaten, so it’s good that he followed up and showed it. He’ll hopefully now get into the Cheltenham Festival Sale.”
Smooth progress
The pair completed their brace in the winners’ of two contest, where Clough Clouds (7/2) made smooth progress from the rear to hit the front before two out.
The son of Cloudings put the race to bed in a matter of strides in the home straight and won on the bridle by two lengths from Fort Bastiani.
“The fancied one [Fortune Lad] fell, but he’s a grand horse, especially on better ground,” McParlan reported.
“He’ll stay in those winners’ races and might even run in a maiden hunters’ chase towards the end of the season. He did it very easily and should hopefully go in again in a few weeks.”
THE concluding older geldings’ maiden appeared to be a match between two Wilson Dennison-owned rivals; however, Mackieshill (6/4 - 7/4 joint-favourite) made a mockery of this field as he scooted clear to win in facile fashion by 42 lengths over Vicomte Le Brave.
The Oran McGill-ridden son of Flemensfirth did so, having bounced back from a below-par effort in Kirkistown on his latest outing.
“He won very well,” Caroline McCaldin said. “We expected that in Kirkistown, but the horses just haven’t been 100%. He is suited by that type of stiff staying track too. We’ll try and poach a winners’ race now.”
Inventing Anna (D. Doyle): This debutante is a striking individual, and she comes from a nice family, being out of a half-sister to Galway Plate winner Shanahan’s Turn and Grade 2 winner Wakanda.
The daughter of Curtain Time travelled strongly and made her move to take on the eventual winner after the fifth last. She was still in contention before falling victim to the hill after two out, where her run petered out.
This was a very encouraging performance and a track with more of an emphasis on speed should see this mare in a better light.