A BLUSTERY day on the Atlantic coast greeted racing at Portrush, where 29 horses competed between the flags on Ian McMaw’s land. The ground was called yielding, becoming sticky throughout the card.
In the opening four-year-old maiden, Louilood (3/1 – 4/1) made virtually all in the quickest time of the day to score on debut under Shane O’Rourke.
Purchased by handler Gary Murphy for €8,500 as a store from Tattersalls, the son of Bathyrhon jumped well and travelled strongly.
The Turbine Syndicate-owned gelding made a momentum-stopping mistake at the last but recovered to beat the staying-on favourite Shoes Off by two and three-quarter lengths.
Murphy stated: “He’s a lovely back-drawn horse. He was very weak, so we gave him his time, and we knew coming here today it would take a nice one to beat him.
“I part-own him with a friend and told him I’d be disappointed if we didn’t win. He’s for sale.”
Thrilling finish
The five-year-old geldings’ maiden produced the most exciting finish of the day, with Stuart Crawford’s Tullynakill (5/1 – 6/1) getting up in the final strides to beat Downpatrick Hill by half a length.
Owned and bred by Elizabeth Hamilton, the son of Capri settled in rear on his second start before staying on strongly under Eoin Mahon. Despite a shuddering error at the final fence, the five-year-old landed the spoils near the post.
“He’s been ready for a while, and we hoped he’d have a bit of a chance,” Ben Crawford, representing the winning handler, explained.
“We were lucky because that was the last day you could run on the track before coming back to points for the autumn. We hoped for some nicer ground but were slightly worried with the ground being softer.
“He was a bit green, and Eoin gave him a patient ride. He’ll improve a lot for this, and he’s for sale.”
Wide margin
The concluding six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden was a match race, with Sutherland (1/3 – 2/5 favourite) winning by 22 lengths for his owner-rider Orán McGill.
Recently acquired by the McGill family from Tom Ellis’ yard, the son of Flemensfirth made all comfortably on his debut between the flags.
Handler Gary McGill applauded his son’s approach, as he stated: “Orán was cute enough to ride it like a piece of work to give the horse a confidence booster.
“He’s a Flemensfirth and he’s a bit hot-headed, so this will do him the world of good. We might go back to the track now, but we’ll see.”
THE open lightweight went to Clough Clouds (evens – 13/8 favourite), who progressed smoothly from midfield to beat the long-time leader West Of Idaho by half a length.
Gerald Quinn’s charge has now won four times between the flags. Despite making a few mistakes, Mervyn Adams’ gelding made headway before two out, led approaching the last and cruised to the line.
Quinn said: “He is a typical Cloudings, they seem to improve all the time. We’re very happy. Noel (McParlan, jockey) said he hated the ground, so it’s great to see.
“We’ll look for another run in open company now, before heading to a hunter’s chase.”
Easy win
The winners’ of three effectively became a match when Tech Talk was left at the start. Market rivals Weespoof and Fortune Lad (evens – 10/11 favourite) set quick fractions, with the latter drawing clear to win by 37 lengths.
The Barry O’Neill-ridden Soldier Of Fortune gelding took a lead before jumping into the lead at the sixth fence. He extended his advantage over the next mile, eventually galloping Weespoof into the ground.
“We are delighted with him,” David Christie jnr, son of the winning handler, said.
“They went some gallop, and only having two rivals wasn’t ideal for him because he needs a bit of company. The better the race, the better he’ll be.
“He has loads of ability and a big engine, and he’s starting to pull it together now. He’s still quite immature mentally, but he’s a very exciting young horse.”
THE five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden went to Nancy Wheeler (15/8 – 6/4 favourite), the sole finisher in the five-runner field.
Purchased for €10,000 as a foal at Goffs by Mark Byrne, she failed to make an impact in four starts under rules before finishing third at Wexford over three miles. Sam Curling’s charge made most of the running under Nicole Lockhead Anderson and battled with Caldanagh from after the fifth last.
Both had every chance jumping the second last, when the latter fell. The experienced hurdler idled but kept on and managed to get over the last to win.
“She had a good run on the track and it’s great to get Nicole on the board early in the year,” Curling said.
“They probably went a stride too quick all the way, but it’s great she won and great for her owners. She’ll be for sale at some stage, but I wouldn’t mind going for a mares’ winners’ race first.”
Horse to Follow
Shoes Off (G. Quinn): The son of Kapgarde was bought for €70,000 as a yearling at Arqana and has a flat-based pedigree. The well-backed favourite settled well and jumped fluently but found himself too far back in the run. The Philip McBurney-owned gelding made headway to go second before the last but was unable to match the winner. He stayed on well, and Ger Quinn’s charge looks capable of going one better between the flags next time, especially over a more demanding test.