Eoghain Ward

THOSE racegoers who were not put off by the inclement weather conditions which greeted the final day of the 2016/17 season, were treated to an enthralling nail-biting conclusion to the champion point-to-point jockeys’ title race.

The battle between Wexford countymen Barry O’Neill and Jamie Codd had enthralled followers over the last month, as Codd steadily ate into the advantage that O’Neill had built up. The pressure was very much on the reigning champion however, as he trailed the newly crowned eastern champion by three winners ahead of the day’s action.

The day did not begin well for Codd, who was forced to settle for the runner-up spot in the Goffs four-year-old geldings’ maiden aboard the favourite Timesawaiting, for his in-form brother Willie. Holding every chance swinging in, the debut son of Arakan could not overcome the challenge of the twice-previously raced Ask The Tycoon (6/1) and Paul Cawley.

The winner carries the colours of the Platinum Thoroughbred Racing Partnership which features a number of well-known National Hunt jockeys, including Sean Flanagan, Mark Enright and Jonathan Burke.

With trainer Denis Hogan absent, it was left to Enright to comment: “Denis was very happy with him coming here. Paul (Cawley) gave him a great ride and he never missed a beat. He will make into a nice horse and is for sale.”

CODD BRACE

A brace for Codd in the following two races put the pressure on O’Neill, with the double kick-started by the hard-fought victory of the Tim Doyle-trained Malpensa (1/1-4/6 favourite) in the Cloughjordan Traders six-year-old mares’ maiden.

Owned and bred by James Monaghan, the daughter of Milan entered the race having received a number of form boosts recently, most notably her Ballyvodock second in January when she had chased home recent Tramore hurdle victor Kings Dolly.

The odds-on favourite did not make light work of her task however, as she was all out to master the Luke Murphy-ridden Lucca Lady by a length at the line.

Codd had once again secured himself the mount on yet another odds-on favourite for the Jimmy Neville Memorial six-year-old geldings’ maiden in the shape of the Bill Durkan-trained Screaming Colours (4/7-1/2 favourite).

Having come out the wrong side of a photo finish on his debut at Oldcastle in mid-April, big things were expected of the Margaret Durkan-owned Dubai Destination gelding, who duly delivered for favourite backers, comfortably accounting for recent Tralee runner-up Seskin Flyer.

“He went close at Oldcastle and this was only his second ever run. He is a decent horse and I think he will make into a lovely chaser,” reported the Co. Dublin-based handler, who added that the bay gelding would be let out to the field for the summer before heading to the track next season.

That 65th winner of the campaign for Codd ensured that the eyes of the point-to-point world were all glued to the outcome of the Bike Park Ireland, Fairymount Farm and Seymore Kenny winner of three contest, the race that would decide the destination of the champion jockey’s title.

After 646 races held over eight months of racing, just one winner separated the pair entering their final race of the season and Codd was once again aboard another well-supported odds-on favourite in Fivecardstud, a recent Dromahane winner. O’Neill had to settle for the mount aboard the less-fancied Lord Getaway.

Having tracked each other throughout in mid-division, neither could ever get on terms with the eventual winner Pass The Ball (7/4-2/1) ensuring O’Neill crossed the line to a rapturous reception from his friends and family, as he was crowned champion jockey for 2017, ending the 14-year domination of Codd and Derek O’Connor.

Race winner Pass The Ball had long finished by that point, having set a relentless pace in the hands of Neil Bashford to run out an impressive four-length victor over the gutsy mare Senators Glory.

The Sean Dowling-owned gelding has been a revelation since these front-running tactics have been employed, with this Ballingarry victory his third success in the space of two months.

Winning trainer Niall Madden was not present as he was among the winners at Listowel but he was represented by his daughter Sarah Ann Madden who noted: “He loves it out in front and Neil (Bashford) gave him a brilliant ride. It’s great to end the season on a winner and he will go to the track now over the summer for my brothers Niall and Tom to ride.”

LALOR CHAMPION

Liz Lalor was yet another rider to be crowned champion at the Tipperary venue as she sealed-up the ladies title with victory aboard Better B Quick (5/4 joint-favourite) in the Liffey Mills and ITM ladies open.

Her chief title rival Shauna Larkin, who trailed Lalor by just one winner entering the race, made a bold bid for success aboard David Christie’s Crowded Room.

However, once headed by the joint-favorite approaching the fourth last, they were always facing an uphill task, as the Ashleigh Murphy-trained Better B Quick extended clear to return 10 lengths in advance of Prince Of Milan.

Success in the corresponding race 12 months earlier brought Lalor a share of last year’s honors and she has now accrued six titles in the past nine years.

“We bought him last summer out of Goresbridge for a few of the young lads who help us out at weekends to ride.

“He is a better ground horse and the ground has really come into his favour in the last while,” said winning owner Michael Murphy. “He will go out in the field now and I would imagine he will come back next season but I am not 100% sure.”

SEASON’S CLOSE

The season drew to a close with the action-packed 17-runner Ellen & James Feehily Memorial older maiden for novice riders. Outsider Leroy Lately set a frenetic pace for much of the contest and once he gave way there were a host of challengers looking to pick-up the pace-setting role on the final circuit.

Track recruit Drumlosh Sallie (8/1) was patiently ridden by Colm Kiernan. The John Carr-owned and trained Definite Article mare was steadily introduced into the race and was ultimately two-lengths too good for the perennial runner-up Ajijic.

A first winner for 18-year-old Kiernan, a native of Summerhill, Co Meath who works for Gordon Elliott, the nine-year-old mare is now set to return inside the rails with Carr stating: “She hasn’t run for a while as she has had some niggling problems.

“Michael Vaughan and Roy Clarke own her with me and they wanted to give her a run here before I put her back on the track. She is well handicapped so we will find a staying hurdle for her in the next few weeks.”

Leading lady

LIZ Lalor added to her champion lady rider award by landing the inaugural ITM ladies series having won three races in the five-round series, including two aboard the tragically ill-fated Sprintingforgold. That saw her conclude the series with 21 points, 10 clear of Shauna Larkin, with Maxine O’Sullivan back in third. The Tipperary-native was presented with her prize by ITM Marketing Manager Sarah Nash in the parade ring ahead of the final race.