THE Gain Mares’ Final occupied centre stage at the Ballynoe meeting on Sunday, with this year’s renewal coming with a generous bonus of €3,000 to the winner that was sponsored by Gain Equine Nutrition and the Ballynoe point-to-point committee.

The Josh Halley-trained Lucy Wang (4/1 - 5/1) returned to the coveted number spot following a vintage running of the race under 20-year-old Aine Connolly, who was creating her own piece of history by becoming the first female rider to win the event.

The victorious six-year-old brought an unusual profile to the table, considering that the French import finished second on her Irish track debut in a three-year-old Leopardstown maiden hurdle in December 2023, whilst she came into this race following a most commendable third-placed effort behind The Great Unknown in a truly-run Ballycahane mares’ open on March 1st.

The John Halley-owned mare edged ever closer to the fifth last and picked up the running from three out.

She could be called the most likely winner from the turn for home and threw another fabulous leap at the last, enroute to dismissing Dedudefromhouston by one and a three-quarter lengths.

This was just Connolly’s second career winner, her only previous success coming aboard Lucy Wang in a Turtulla mares’ maiden in November.

A granddaughter of former trainer Michael Croke, she presently rides out five mornings a week for Josh Halley, whilst she also visits Pat Doyle’s yard.

Handler Halley wasn’t present, but later remarked: “We are really delighted to win the Gain Final with Lucy Wang. She has always been a very honest mare, and we might now go for the mares’ hunters chase at Cork on Easter Monday.

“I’m also delighted for Aine as she puts in a lot of work at home.”

CIARAN Fennessy, having sent out the four-year-old Uncle Cc to win at Knockanohill the previous Sunday, struck with Polly Piper (2/1 - 9/4 favourite) in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

The daughter of Crystal Ocean shaped well when sent off favourite on debut at Dromahane in early December, with the winner Burds Of A Feather since landing a Warwick bumper. She always travelled well for Alan O’Sullivan here and set sail for home after the third-last.

One Day In May joined issue two out and a ding-dong battle then ensued, with Polly Piper shading the verdict by a head in the colours of her trainer’s son Michael Fennessy, to also earn a €1,000 bonus that was sponsored by the O’Keeffe family.

“She’s a lovely mare, and I think the bit of nicer ground here helped,” said Fermoy-based handler Fenessy.

Bonus

There was also a bonus of €800, this one put up by the INHSC, in the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden, with this going to the Ray Hurley-trained Farnahoe Rebel (3/1 - 7/2).

A creditable fourth on his penultimate foray at Dungarvan in late January, the seven-year-old arrived to dispute the running with The Gallan after three out.

The son of Imperial Monarch, homebred by Innishannon-based owner Bernard O’Mahony, set sail for home with Darragh Allen well before two out, and he accounted for Champagne Order by five and a half lengths. A winners’ race is now his likely aim.

Back to best

The old firm of Robert Tyner and Derek O’Connor joined forces to collect the five-year-old geldings’ maiden with Cascando (5/2 - 9/4 favourite), runner-up on his early December debut at Dromahane only to then disappoint when pulling up on a return visit on December 30th.

The son of Poet’s Word moved to the front before the fifth fence and made most of the rest of the running, asserting at the last to win by two and a half lengths.

Tyner suggested that the Kieran Stokes-owned Cascando could now contest a bumper if he’s not sold.

THE future looks bright for Jurys Verdict (5/2 - 3/1) after the Colin Bowe-trained grey posted a taking debut success under Barry O’Neill in the four-year-old maiden, a race in which all nine runners were first-timers.

The son of Jukebox Jury made nice progress from three out and readily forged to the front before the final fence. Despite then showing greenness, he stormed clear on the flat to put three and a half lengths between himself and Soldier Boy in the familiar Milestone Bloodstock Ltd silks.

Bowe remarked of the €50,000 Goffs Arkle Sale graduate, who traces back to Rhinestone Cowboy and Wichita Lineman: “I trained this fellow’s dam Goodbloodbadblood to win a point, and that’s why we bought this fellow. I’ve also been very lucky with the sire Jukebox Jury, and he will probably now go to the Aintree sale next month.”

Homebred

James Murphy partnered an initial winner for his uncle James Sheehan aboard Ballynattin Blue (3/1 - 2/1 favourite) in the five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts maiden.

Sent off favourite when pulling up on debut last month, the five-year-old made most of the running and was already in command when erring at the last. The length-and-a-half winner is owned by Joe O’Keeffe and homebred by his brother Bill, who was on hand to join in the post-race celebrations.

Soldier Boy (S. T. Doyle): This son of Soldier Of Fortune posted an excellent debut effort when beaten three and a half lengths into second spot by Jurys Verdict in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden. He physically looks a chaser and should effortlessly develop into a track winner as a five-year-old.