JAMES Kenny recorded his second double of the season when steering home Ticket To L A (5/2) to a comprehensive 10-length success in the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden. Sporting the colours of the Milestone Racing Partnership, the daughter of Westerner jumped well at the head of affairs before seeing off her stablemate Gallopongray in the closing stages.

Afterwards winning handler, Colin Bowe stated: “This is a nice mare who appreciated a bit of better ground today. James (Kenny) gave her a great ride; we might go for a summer bumper with her now before heading to the sales.”

Ya Boy Ya (3/1-7/2) brought up the double for James Kenny when taking the winners of one contest later in the afternoon. Successful at Tyrella back in March, the Orphan Girl Syndicate-owned gelding, was given a patient ride before sweeping through to fend off the challenge of Saint Benedict by a length and a half.

“It’s great for James (Kenny) to have the double, he is really starting to get going there now. This is a nice horse who we always liked at home and we will send him to the sales now,” commented the riders father Liam Kenny, who also trains the five-year-old.

Third winner

Ben Harvey rode his third winner of the season when Honey Come Home (2/1-5/2) took the five-year-old mares’ maiden in the colours of Mary Doyle.

A close third on her debut at Loughrea, the daughter of Mahler put that experience to good use here when getting the better of Sailingtobyzantium by a neck following a close finish.

“She is a little bit weak so she should improve plenty, she will go out on grass now. That will be a great boost for Jim Lanigan who is involved in her as he has been is hospital. We will keep her for breeding. Ben (Harvey) gave her a smashing ride.”

Brian Lawless was another novice rider on the score board on and the Wicklow native continued to make a good impression when producing a well-judged front-running ride aboard Bintheredonethat (5/1).

The Peter-Croke trained gelding was getting off the mark at the fifth time of asking in the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden here.

Owned by Maurice Sheehy, the homebred found plenty for pressure to see-off Shouldn’t be Here by three lengths in the closing stages. “He would be a lovely horse for the track in time, but if we get a nice offer for him, we will sell him,” stated the handler.

The first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden went to the experienced Cronin’s Hill (6/4 favourite) who followed up on two placed efforts to see off the attentions of Get The Facts by a length and a half.

Owned by Liam Griffin, the son of Scorpion saved every yard down the rail before going on to win under James Hannon. “That was fantastic, I will chat to the owners now and we will decide what we do with him, because today was the plan,’ said handler Maire Harding.

Curling again

Sam Curling saddled his 32nd success of the season when Poetic Presence (2/5 favourite) ran out an easy 12-length winner of the mares’ open in the hands of novice rider Jack O’Grady. A winner at Tralee eight days earlier, the former British point-to-pointer made all the running to see-off the eventual runner-up Save Us Avis.

Afterwards the successful owner/handler said: “I’m delighted for Jack (O’Grady), it’s great to give him his first winner as he works full time with me in the yard and is a good lad.”

Stephen Connor and Willie Murphy have enjoyed a fine association over the last few weeks and the pair combined with Bunninadden (3/1-7/2) to take the concluding seven-year-old maiden.

Placed on a few occasions last season, the Papal Pull gelding bounced back to form here following a mid-season break, staying on dourly to beat Mustmeetforapint by four lengths in the colours of the handler himself who said: “It’s been a good season that’s 11 winners now. We originally kept this lad for my wife to ride but she injured her shoulder three weeks ago, so Stephen (Connor) stepped in after Pa King got injured as well.”

Horse to follow

Woodfield Symphony (J.P. Flavin): This daughter of Mahler shaped with plenty of promise on her debut at Tralee just eight days earlier when finishing third and backed up that effort with another fine placed effort in the mares’ maiden. On this evidence she should have no issue breaking her maiden tag come the autumn.

Injured jockeys

FRANKIE Ward, who plays a vital role as regional secretary for many hunts in the region, was completing Trojan work for the Injured Jockeys Fund on the afternoon.

She was encouraging anybody eligible for an entrance fee refund to donate their refund ticket to raise vital funds for the charity, who provide fantastic support to injured riders.

An excellent way to raise funds.

CLARE native Jack O’Grady enjoyed his first winner from just his third ride when steering Poetic Presence to success in the novice riders open.

The 19-year-old is based full time with Sam Curling and only received his licence a couple of months ago.

O’Grady started out with Paurick and Derek O’Connor and with such a good grounding behind him he could be one to watch in the future.

Great refreshments

THE Ormond hunt make excellent use of a permanent structure on site which hosts not only the weigh room but also provides enough space for the hunt to supply complimentary refreshments to all those that make the day possible.

A host of sandwiches, cakes and buns, along with tea and coffee were on offer to the many volunteers, officials, participants and landowners that ensure the smooth running of both the hunt and the two-day fixture itself. On a windy day racegoers were thankful of both the shelter and the thoughtful touch.