THE Co Clare Hunt hosted their annual spring fixture at the picturesque Burren setting of Quakerstown on Easter Sunday. Despite blustery conditions, racegoers were treated to some smart prospects being unleashed.
None were more impressive than the Tom Keating-owned and trained debutant Milford Road (2/1 - 5/1), who created a taking impression when landing the opening contest of the card, the four-year-old maiden in authoritative fashion.
Patiently ridden throughout by Chris O’Donovan, this chesnut son of Jukebox Jury moved into a challenging position on the run to two out to move into a clear second. Despite an untidy jump at the second last, he quickly swooped past the long-time leader, Whatuseeiswhatuget, on the run to the last. Displaying a potent turn of foot, he stayed on powerfully to keep the challenge of Join The Kew at bay to score by four lengths.
“He is very classy,” remarked Keating of the €50,000 store purchase. “He has loads of boot, he is out of a Sea The Stars mare. He’s one of the better ones I’ve ever had; he’s a proper one.
“I probably thought the ground might be nicer, but I ran him anyway. If he got bet I would have been asking serious questions because I have a few nice ones to come out yet.”
Thrilling finish
Racegoers were treated to a gripping finish in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden when the debutant Ocean Warrior, one of three horses holding leading claims, came to grief at the last.
This left the pair, Charlie Whizzbang and Sittin Ona Fortune (11/2), to battle to the line with the latter ultimately prevailing by a length under Brian Lawless for trainer Mark Scallan.
Sporting the silks of the Know When To Foalem Syndicate, he had looked booked for third on the long run to the last, but to his credit, he showed a game battling attitude to hang onto the leading pair. A €19,000 store purchase, the winner was having just his third career start, and justified connections’ decision of a quick turnaround, having unseated last week in Monksgrange.
“He jumped like a buck bar, maybe the fourth last where he got in a bit close, but he stayed on well,” Scallan reported. “He was unlucky last weekend, and he came out of it well, so we said we would take our chance. He’s a lovely horse that needed time; he just got a few little setbacks.”
THE largest field of the afternoon saw eight head to post for a competitive renewal of the ladies’ open. It was to be a weekend to remember for Scottish native Nicole Lockhead Anderson, who continued her red-hot form having landed the Ladies’ National in Fairyhouse by a head less than 24 hours earlier aboard The Gradual Slope. This, however, was a much more straightforward result as the nine-year-old What Path (7/4 favourite) routed his rivals by some 12 lengths to record his third victory of the season and second on the bounce in the colours of owner John Griffin for handler Michael Mangan.
Having tracked the leaders in third throughout the contest, the winner moved menacingly into second three out and could be called a winner some way from home.
Small field
Just three runners headed to post for the five- and six-year-old mares’ maiden. It was to be a facile victory, however, for Poppies In July (2/1) who made all in what was a commanding pillar-to-post success under Darragh Allen.
The trio, who were tightly grouped throughout, all held chances jumping two out, with the eventual winner producing an untidy jump, losing momentum in the process.
This daughter of Poet’s Word, however, quickly asserted on the run to the last to forge away from the eventual second Agusta Gold to score by 10 lengths for owner Lian Mulryan.
Trained by Terence O’Brien, the winner was having just her second career start, having last been seen finishing third on debut in Monksgrange a year earlier.
“It wasn’t ideal with only three runners,” Allen said. “We had the form in the book, she was third in a real good four-year-old last season, and we always taught plenty of her. She will definitely be a nice mare going forward. She’s very ground versatile.”
GALWAY natives were much to the fore in the six-year-old geldings’ maiden when Tuam-based owner and trainer David Ryan, father of top flat jockey Rossa Ryan, provided Craughwell native Ollie Gilligan with a first career success aboard Killowen House (6/1).
Patiently ridden for much of the race, the eventual winner moved to the lead on the run to two out and quickened impressively to stamp his authority on the field to run out a cosy five-length winner on what was the fifth time of asking.
Having finished sixth last time out in Belcare, this son of Yeats took a big step forward and will likely continue his upward trajectory in a winners’ race.
Local success
The concluding contest on the card, a maiden for five-year-olds and upwards confined to the Clare hunt, saw owner-trainer John Staunton team up with fellow Clare native Eoin Mahon to steer Onedaymaybe to success.
Racing in mid-division for much of the contest, he moved through to take the lead approaching the third-last fence and asserted with ease on the run to two out to rout his rivals by 80 lengths. A son of Ocovango, he will now go for a winners’ race or head for the track, having been a class above these rivals here.
Horse to Follow
Whatuseeiswhatuget (S. Curling): A grey son of Kamsin, he took a keen hold early in play, and made the running until surrendering the lead after the second-last. Probably over-racing in the early stages, if he can settle next time out, he will be tough to beat.