THE fixture’s landowner Jimmy Mangan was virtually mobbed by well-wishers after his newcomer Soldiers Trick brought up a four-timer for Derek O’Connor by winning the closing adjacent hunts maiden.
On an afternoon that saw trainer Olly Murphy amongst the spectators, the five-year-old gelding Soldiers Trick (2/1 - 3/1 favourite) was always prominent in the main group as Fiddleinthemiddle held a clear advantage from the fourth fence.
The front-runner came back to the field on the final circuit, and Tokens Glory picked up the running after three out with She’ll Be Kept and Soldiers Trick in close proximity.
Soldiers Trick was left second when She’ll Be Kept exited two out, and he moved to the front before the last only to be headed on landing over the final fence by Tokens Glory.
The son of Soldier Of Fortune, however, re-assumed command over 100 yards out to beat Helen O’Connor’s Tokens Glory by an increasing three lengths.
Soldiers Trick is the first horse that Mangan has trained for Carmel McCarthy of The Beeches Stud, with the handler reporting of the imposing homebred, who was quickly added to this past Thursday’s Goffs sale: “This horse has something about him, and I thought beforehand that he wouldn’t be ready and that we would then be running him at Lismore next month.
“Derek [O’Connor] thinks that he has a bright future.”
Local success
The locals earlier had further cause for cheer, as O’Connor recorded his second success of the afternoon in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden aboard High Kick Kev (2/1 - 100/30), owned and trained by the meeting’s starter Garry Aherne.
High Kick Kev was put to sleep at the rear of the eight-runner field, except that he gave his supporters major cause for alarm by erring five out.
In the final analysis, this blunder didn’t make the slightest bit of difference as the son of Maxios bounded into the lead on the inner after two out en route to dismissing Spanish D’ange by a convincing five lengths.
“I think he is a nice horse that has improved and he will improve again,” disclosed Aherne of High Kick Kev, a €7,000 graduate of the 2024 Tattersalls Ireland July sale, who was offered at the Goffs Sale on Thursday evening and sold for €50,000 to Gerry Aherne.
DEREK O’Connor, who remarkably had just four mounts at the meeting, got the ball rolling aboard newcomer Onehellofalaugh (3/1- 7/4 favourite), who he trains for his wife Carol, in the four-year-old maiden.
Onehellofalaugh, having really taken the eye in the parade ring, was always well positioned on the inner, and he picked up the running after three out.
The son of Postponed was soon tracked by the patiently-ridden Power Of Authority, with the pair noticeably quickening on the descent to the penultimate of the 15 obstacles.
Power Of Authority, however, blundered on the outer here as Onehellofalugh was the faster away from the fence. He then drew clear on the flat to oblige by five lengths from Magical Major.
“He’s a good staying jumping horse that has his future ahead of him, and he’ll now go the Goffs sale on Thursday,” said O’Connor of Onehellofalaugh.
Winning streak
O’Connor later teamed up with Sam Curling to collect the open aboard The Great Unknown (4/5 - 4/7 favourite), who was posting her fourth consecutive success of the season, having also won at Bellharbour the previous Sunday.
The Great Unknown disputed the running on the inner virtually through until edging ahead before two out and, having landed running here, she was always in command thereafter and the seven-year-old effortlessly asserted from the last to dismiss fellow pacesetter Earths Furies by two and a half lengths in the silks of the handler’s mother, Adelia Greer.
The Great Unknown has now won nine points in total over the past two seasons since being purchased out of the Henry de Bromhead stable.
Curling remarked of the daughter of Walk In the Park: “I only stuck her in here late on Tuesday morning, as she was in such good form after winning at Bellharbour last Sunday.
“She’s a mighty mare, and we will keep running her in points.”
Successful debut for
LADY Vienna (5/1 - 7/1) posted a taking debut success under her handler Turlough O’Connor in the mares’ maiden. Tiffiny’s Girl moved to the head of affairs before three out and couldn’t quite shake off Lady Vienna approaching the final fence.
The five-year-old daughter of Maxios, a 2024 Tattersalls Ireland May sale graduate, then stormed past on the flat to thwart Tiffiny’s Girl by a length and a half in the colours of O’Connor’s maternal aunt, Irene Walsh.
Tiffiny’s Girl’s rider Johnny Barry didn’t leave empty-handed, as he later combined with fellow Conna native Eamonn Gallagher, who was sending out an initial winner at his local fixture, to collect the older geldings’ maiden aboard newcomer Thermal Overload (2/1 - 5/2).
The six-year-old grey son of Milan came from well off the pace to lead before the last, and he duly defeated Padraigs Boy by two and a half lengths.
Thermal Overload, representing Con Hickey from Killeagh, is now likely to be sold.
Horse to follow
Power Of Authority (M. E. Doyle): This newcomer came from the rear of the field to almost join issue before two out with winner Onehellofalugh in the four-year-old maiden. Whilst then beaten in a dispute of second when falling at the last, the son of Poet’s Word still showed enough to suggest that he possesses definite track potential.