THE effects of Storm Dave were felt by racegoers, as the wind and rain swept in from the west. There were three storming finishes on the day, the first of these coming in the opening division of the four-year-old mares maiden.
Crazy Alice (6/1 - 8/1) caused a minor upset as she surged home to deny long-time leader Theemeraldempress by a neck.
Peter Boyd’s homebred daughter of Affinisea settled in mid-division under Thomas Kileff. She was ridden along after two out and began to reduce the deficit to the pacesetter early in the straight.
She switched right before the last and pecked at the back of it, which did not aid her cause; however, she stayed on strongly and got up in the dying strides.
Ross Crawford said: “She’s tough, but not overly big. When I came here and saw the fences, I thought this might be a big ask. She jumped really well. Young Thomas did all the work at the start, and Peter said he could stay on.”
Stronger tempo
The second division of this contest was run at a stronger tempo, resulting in a time 16 seconds quicker than the first and the fastest time of the day. Mioruilteach (5/1 - 4/1) collared Mourne Maid close home to score by three-quarters of a length.
The daughter of Soldier Of Fortune was purchased as a foal from Tattersalls for €2,500 by the Tyrell family, and she was given a patient ride by Eoin Mahon as she made gradual progress in the second half of the race.
Cian Collins’ mare started to stay on strongly in the straight and managed to keep on better than the eventual second in the closing stages.
“She jumped super throughout and travelled strongly,” Mahon reported. “I thought jumping the second last, Paddy Turley’s mare was gone on me. To be fair to the mare, she put down her head and really toughed it out. She loved the ground.”
Final contest
The final four-year-old contest of the day was for geldings, and it was fought out by Glebe House (3/1) and Lexington Flyer, with the former prevailing by half a length. Purchased by Rob James for €41,000 at the Goffs Arkle Sale, the son of Poet’s Word settled in mid-division before being pushed along after the third last.
The penny appeared to drop on the turn for home, and even with a mistake at the last, this gelding battled on to get up near the finish.
“We’re after going a nice gallop, and I knew he’d get going; he really hits top gear,” explained James.
“I missed the second last, but when you really need him, he knuckles down for you. He’s a big baby really.”
THE mares’ open run in memory of the late owner Peggy Hagan, and this contest was appropriately won by Derek O’Connor aboard The Great Unknown (1/4 - 1/3 favourite).
The mare is now an 11-time winner between the flags for owner Adelia Greer and has scored in her last seven consecutive starts.
The daughter of Walk In The Park produced a faultless round and went about her job with minimal fuss, beating Walk The Hall by five lengths.
O’ Connor paid tribute to Mrs Hagan afterwards stating: “Mrs Hagan owned a lot of horses down through the years with Ian Ferguson and Graham McKeever. I rode a lot of winners in her colours around here in Loughanmore. We won the Foxhunters in Aintree on Balnaslow, so it’s lovely. It’s nice to see her grandkids there.”
Repel the challenge
The five-year-old mares’ maiden was captured by the Catriona Goff-owned French Adventure (7/2), who kicked for home a fair way out and managed to repel the late challenge of Princess Aveen by half a length.
Mick Goff’s mare built on her most recent third, where she was closing all the way to the line, and under enterprising tactics from Matt Gahan, she duly opened her account at the seventh attempt.
The winners’ of two had a small turnout, with only three runners going to post, and this contest was bossed by Fortune Man (1/2 favourite). The son of Soldier Of Fortune was held last week by Weespoof in Portrush, but he swiftly returned to winning ways.
He pushed the pace throughout under Barry O’Neill and ultimately broke his two rivals, scoring by 32 lengths from Royale Rocker.
“He could follow the same steps as Winged Leader, although maybe not win as many, but he’s well capable in winners’ races and hunters chases,” David Christie said of the John Hegarty and Jennifer O’Kane-owned six-year-old.
“At the minute I see him as a 130 horse in his work.”
THERE was a bloodless victory for Common Sense (3/1 - 7/2) in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The 18-length winner was purchased by Robert Tector for €11,000 at the Goffs Arkle Sale, and he ran encouragingly on debut behind Uncle Pad, who subsequently realised £310,000.
Owned by Deborah Halley, this aptly-named gelding was given an uncomplicated ride by Barry Stone.
The son of Workforce tanked through this contest and quickened up to put the race to bed after the second last. He galloped on at his ease to beat I Can Find Em in a performance that left a lasting impression.
“He had a good run the last day on ground that he probably didn’t like, and we bumped into a very good horse,” Tector reported.
“We always thought a lot of this horse, and thankfully, he got the job done today. Barry said he had to keep missing fences; he was travelling too well, and he was trying to take him back everywhere. He’ll be better going on a gallop too.”
Mourne Maid (P. E. Turley): Hailing from the family of dual Grade 1-winner Chantry House, this imposing mare made most of the running, and appeared to be cruising to a facile success after two out. Ultimately headed late on, she remains a bright prospect.