WHILE he may have relinquished his champion jockey title last season, Barry O’Neill has enjoyed a bright start to the new campaign.
The nine-time champion registered a treble at Fairwood Park, with his initial success coming aboard Colin Bowe’s Talladega (2/1 – 5/2 joint favourite) in the five-year-old mares’ maiden.
After performing with credit on the track over the summer, the Jukebox Jury grey improved into a share of the lead from the fifth last and was left with a definite advantage when Diamondinlockdown unseated on the level approaching two out.
Shaken up on the run to the final fence, she eventually came home two-lengths clear of Buddy And Me, with Dunbrattin the only other finisher in this six-runner heat.
“She ran respectably during the summer and is getting better the whole time,” assistant trainer Brendan Walsh remarked.
“She might go for a winners’ race now or might even go back to the track. She has a workable mark over hurdles.”
’He jumped like a buck’
O’Neill’s second success was again for Bowe, who also registered a treble at Umma House, and Milestone Bloodstock, with Dark Til Daylight (2/1 – 5/2) making all in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Third when last seen at this venue in February, Dark Til Daylight found plenty when pushed along from two out and despite edging to his left in the closing stages, he fended off the challenge of Secret Order by three-quarters of a length.
“He improved a lot from last year. He was a big weak horse and has taken plenty of time,” Walsh reflected.
“He enjoyed being out in front today, enjoyed the ground and jumped like a buck.”
’One of my best young horses’
The late defection of Gale Force Jet resulted in just three lining-up for the open, with My Life Be Like (5/4 – 11/10) proving much the best to complete Barry O’Neill’s treble.
A close fourth at Down Royal on St Stephen’s Day, the David Christie-trained victor failed to fire on his most recent start at Clonmel in January.
Warming to his task here after a slow jump at the first, the Getaway six-year-old, who is owned in partnership by Shane Wilson and Jamesy Hagan, improved into an outright lead from five out.
Drawing clear from the second last, he had 10 lengths to spare at the line, with Jeroboam Machin (1/2 – 4/5 facourite) well beaten in the runner-up spot.
“He was disappointing at Clonmel because he is one of the best young horses I have.
“My horses were all sick around that time though and he had a wee stress fracture in his hip,” Christie revealed.
“He is a very quick horse and two and a half miles would be his ideal trip. I wanted to get a run into him because I knew he was heavy.
“I might run him in a hunter chase now at Fairyhouse in early November.”
O’NEILL got no further than the first on market leader Cluain Meala in the opening four-year-old maiden, with Denis Murphy’s Right Jack (6/4 – 5/1) coming out on top.
One of three debutants in the line-up, the €30,000 Goffs Arkle Sale purchase was never too far from the pace under Shane Cotter, improving to dispute the lead from three out. Gaining an outright advantage on the run to the next, he found for pressure in the closing stages and was two and a half lengths clear of Redshire Road on crossing the line.
“He was working terribly well last season, and we did enter him at one stage. He gave himself a nick schooling and had to get a few stitches, so he was gone for the season then,” Murphy reported.
“Maybe it was all for luck though, because he is a big horse and might have needed that bit of time.”
Pratt makes his presence felt
Stepitoutmary (5/2 – 4/1) took the mares’ winner of one under young Conna native Jake Pratt. Improving into second approaching two out, the Johnny Fitzgerald-trained five-year-old was a length down when Seventy Eight Team blundered and unseated Colm Whyte.
Quickly powering clear when ridden, the Shantaram bay eased to a 25-length success, with just three of the six starters managing to complete the course.
“That’s my second winner and my sister Leanne owns her,” the winning rider said. “I’m 19 and based with Derek O’Connor five days a week. I’m with Eoin McCarthy on Thursday morning and go down to Johnny Fitz in the evening.”
SIX also faced the starter for the concluding six-year-old and upwards maiden for novice riders and it was I’m Over It (2/1 – 5/2 joint favourite) who came out on top.
In the care of Robert Tector and from the family of 2007 Grand National winner Silver Birch, the El Salvador debutant was given a patient ride by Leon Cullen.
Taking closer order after Molldubh and Barely Made It unseated independently four out, the Marie Robinson-owned victor got to the front before the last and drew clear on the run-in to register a seven-length win.
“I hadn’t even worked him on grass. We just said we’d tip around here and learn a bit about him. It’s job done now anyway and hopefully he’ll go for a winners’ race all being well,” Tector said.
Horse to follow
Pleasure Of Love (Donnchadh Doyle): This €85,000 Goffs Arkle Sale purchase came from off the pace and was doing his best work towards the end in the race won by Dark Til Daylight, finishing a never nearer third. Progressing with every run, he shouldn’t have much longer to wait before getting his turn.