THE Brian Lawless-trained and ridden Jessber’s Jury (3/1 - 9/2) produced a striking debut performance, as he powered 10 lengths clear of his rivals to land the four-year-old maiden in decisive fashion.
Carrying the colours of Lawless’s partner, Abbie O’Connor, the son of the late Jukebox Jury, out of the prolific blacktype performer and Grade 1-placed Jessber’s Dream, travelled strongly before being delivered with his challenge early in the straight, heading long time pacesetter Mickos Max and drawing clear on the run-in to win by a widening margin from Mon Ami Dab, who ran well to fill the runner-up spot.
“He was bought for €65,000 at the Goffs Arkle Sale from Paul Cashman,” Lawless said afterwards. “He’s a very well-bred horse with a big pedigree. I gave him a squeeze down the back, and he picked up plenty for me. We’ll look to move him on now, and he will go to the Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale this week.”
Nenagh’s reputation as a fair, galloping track was again underlined when the newcomer Loughmourne (3/1) took the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, staying on best in testing conditions for owner-handler Stuart Crawford.
Having been settled in mid-division by Eoin Mahon, the son of Maxios was smuggled into contention on the final circuit before being produced to lead approaching the last. From there, he forged clear on the run-in to beat The Captain’s Word by three lengths.
More excited
“We bought him for €30,000 at the Derby Sale from JJ Frisby of Glenwood Stud,” Crawford revealed afterwards. “I thought so much of him that I went and bought his full-brother last year, and I’m even more excited about him now. We’ve always liked this horse.”
A field of five went to post for the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden, and it was the Paul Pierce-trained Lady Bam (3/1 - 6/1) who took a notable step forward from a debut effort at Dromahane by quickening on turning into the straight and staying on strongly to score for winning owners, Blackhall Stables Partnership.
Never headed
The daughter of Getaway was sent into a share of the lead from the halfway point, and this proved to be the race-winning move by rider Luke Murphy as she was never headed thereafter, and eventually saw the trip out well to account for warm favourite Boombox by three lengths at the line.
Speaking afterwards, Pierce’s brother Andy reported: “She cost €30,000 and came off Goffs Arkle Sale. She has an exceptionally good pedigree, and her work has always been excellent. She will now go to the Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale this week.”
ENDA Bolger has long enjoyed a strong association with this track, and this year’s renewal was no exception as the decorated Limerick handler was once again among the winners when Solitary Man (11/10 - 1/1) benefited from a well-judged ride from Áine O’Connor to take the ladies’ open for owner Mrs Paul Shanahan.
Only four runners went to post and, in a race run at a steady gallop, O’Connor tracked the shortest route down the inside before asking the eight-year-old son of Champs Elysees to lengthen before the penultimate fence.
This sharp injection of pace proved decisive and too much for odds-on favourite Winged Leader, who had to settle for the runner-up spot.
“I liked the way he came away between the final two fences,” Bolger commented. “He loves going left-handed. He’s won four times around Killarney, and this is his third open success this season, all on left-handed tracks.
“Áine has been with us for nearly 20 years now, and she gave him a lovely ride down the inner the whole way, she does that so well.”
Aptly named
Another former track performer to taste success on the card was the aptly-named Trackman Tommy (3/1 - 4/1), who made the breakthrough in the concluding older geldings’ maiden for Co Galway handler Tony Kelly. It was also giving rider Laura Costello her first winner of the season, when partnering the Declan Cunningham-owned son of Notnowcato to an eight-length victory.
Having been patiently ridden, Trackman Tommy took up the running before three out and still held the call when the challenging Clonmeen Cross exited at the penultimate fence, then was left clear to score comfortably on his third attempt between the flags.
Speaking afterwards, Kelly was quick to praise the winning rider. “I’m delighted for Laura. She works incredibly hard and has been a huge help to me. Her sister Emily is also going very well, and their whole family are steeped in tradition.
“Today was the plan for this lad, and we’ll keep our options open for him. Declan is from Bearna in Galway and has given me a fantastic opportunity to train these horses for him, I’d like to give him a special mention of thanks.”
EIGHT went to post for the winners’ of one contest, which delivered one of the best finishes of the afternoon as the progressive Le Boum Retourne (2/1 - 5/2 favourite) showed plenty of grit in the closing stages to follow up his Turtulla maiden success for winning owner-handler Willie Murphy, scoring by two lengths at his first attempt at winners’ level under regular partner Pa King.
Run at a steady tempo, the race left plenty in contention at the bottom of the straight, but once King sent the six-year-old son of Buck’s Boum to the front jumping two out, he was never for passing and a sound leap at the last allowed him to repel early pacesetter Depalma on the run to the line.
“He handled the step up to winners’ level well, so we’ll probably step it up again with him now, but we’ll be in no rush,” Murphy said afterwards.
“He’ll only run once or twice more, and we might have a look at a novice hunter’s chase. He’s a horse for the long term; his dam is a half-sister to Monbeg Dude, who won his maiden here in 2010. He’s a grand chaser going forward, and, as usual, a great ride from Pa.”
Mon Ami Dab (C. Bowe): was a £45,000 purchase at Goffs UK Spring Store Sale and ran a cracker on debut.
The grey son of Tunis put up a satisfactory performance before eventually giving best to the winner from two out and, with this initial experience to carry forward, he looks to be a winner in waiting for connections.