THE Wicklow Foxhounds staged the second of four fixtures scheduled for Fairwood Park this season, with locals dominating on the fine November afternoon.
Taking half of the six races between them, Long Road (6/4 - 11/8 favourite) completed a double for both Philip Rothwell and Barry Walsh in the six-year-old and upwards maiden for novice riders.
Narrowly beaten at Tramore in April and again filling the runner-up spot when last seen at Peppards Castle, the Rothwell-owned Califet bay made a slight mistake three out, but soon improved to lead.
Travelling best from early in the straight, he extended his advantage approaching the last and came home eight lengths clear of the front-running Occupational Force.
“That’s my first double, and it’s great to do it at my local track,” Walsh remarked.
“I’m in with Philip in the mornings and rode this horse when he was second at Tramore.
“I’ve ridden him a couple of times, and options are open for him now.”
Hit the right notes
Walsh initiated his brace on Singing Casamento (4/5 - 9/10 favourite) in the five-year-old and upwards mares maiden, with this point-to-point debutant leading home two rivals.
Owned and trained by Walsh’s father, John, and bred by his brother, Aaron, the chesnut five-year-old made virtually all. Jumping badly left at the second and hampering her opponents, she was a lot more economical at her fences when joined from the fourth.
Regaining an outright lead before the last, she ultimately came home three and a half lengths to the good, with Coppola filling the runner-up spot.
“When the other horse [Mrs Huntly Jones] came up beside her, it made her concentrate a bit more on jumping,” the winning rider explained.
“She stayed at it the whole way, that’s all she does, she stays going.”
AFTER wins at Damma House and Knockmullen House respectively, Aidan Fitzgerald and Troy Walsh combined for a third success in as many weekends.
One of seven declared for the five- and six-year-old geldings’ maiden, their Jonzac (7/4 - 2/1 favourite) battled to a three-quarter-length win.
Third and not beaten far on his last two starts, the €62,000 Goffs Arkle Sale graduate was pushed along to lead before two out, but made a mistake and opened the door for Gainsville.
Racing in the colours of the Cobajay Syndicate, the successful bay ultimately repelled the aforementioned Colin Bowe-trained challenger on the run-in, with the pair drawing 28 lengths clear of the third.
“Today we said we’d take a lead, and Troy gave him a beautiful ride; he is riding very well,” Fitzgerald enthused.
“He was very weak as a four-year-old and has just taken time, but he is a lovely horse that is going to win plenty of races and he’ll go off to the sales now.”
A reason to Smile
Michael Murphy’s Make Me Smile (5/1 - 10/1) is another sales-bound, after he impressively dismissed eight rivals on debut in the opening four-year-old maiden.
While Lanzhou set a strong pace from the outset, he faded when overhauled by the Frankie Murphy-ridden victor on the lengthy run to the penultimate obstacle.
Soon surging clear, the successful Feel Like Dancing chesnut ultimately eased to a 14-length win in the colours of Redbridge Stables.
“He’s a half-brother to Echoing Silence and the Skelton’s have a nice horse [Deafening Silence] who is another half-brother,” the winning handler reflected.
“He is a lovely, good-winded horse, and he’ll win big chases in either Ireland or England. He’d love it even heavier than it is today.”
THE first part of Philip Rothwell’s brace, Galon Du Vauzelle (5/1 - 6/1) upstaged dual Grade 1 winner Conflated in the five-runner open.
The pair went toe-to-toe from four out, with the Phildelma Elvin-ridden victor gaining the upper hand early in the straight, eventually coming home 13 lengths to the good.
Clearly not the force of old, the aforementioned Conflated faded once headed and eventually trailed home last of four finishers.
“He ran in the Sefton at Aintree last year, and the main aim is to try and get him back for the Foxhunters there this season,” Elvin revealed.
“I’m so lucky that my mother Emma [Downey], who is here today, my father John [Lane], who is unfortunately working in Navan, and Philip all own him together and got him for me to go to Aintree. We’ll see how he comes out of today, but he is a super fun horse for all of us.”
Too good
A wide-margin victor on debut at Stowlin in May, Kamille Au Kanada (4/5 - 1/1 favourite) again proved much too good for her rivals in the concluding four-runner mares’ winners of two.
Racing in rear under Rob James, the chesnut five-year-old gave her supporters a real scare four out, jumping badly left and blundering at that obstacle.
Recovering quickly, the Monbeg Syndicate-owned French-bred made good progress to lead before two out and readily increased her advantage, eventually coming home 16 lengths to the good.
“Rob said she missed one or two and wasn’t really enjoying it, but she was full of running straightening up for home,” successful handler Donnchadh Doyle said.
“She might be happier going back the other way around, but she has plenty of ability and won well last season too. She’ll be sold now, and she might win a bumper as she has plenty of speed.”
Horse to follow
Asphalt Cowboy (S.G. Carey): Successful when last seen at Downpatrick in May, this likeable seven-year-old ran a nice race on his return. While never really threatening, the son of Getaway plugged on in the closing stages to take third. A real stayer, he looks one to keep on side this season.