Richard Pugh

WHILE Kilbeggan Racecourse is a sufficient distance away from Ballingarry to allow both to race last Sunday, the Ormond hunt were competing with a relatively local and popular NH fixture for the opening day of their end of season two-day event and it did affect crowd size.

Furthermore, with Colin Bowe and Donnchadh Doyle agreeing to shake hands on the handlers’ title only 24 hours earlier the meeting was reduced in terms of runners and high profile interest. It was only 12 months ago when the riders’ title had cars travelling from all over to view Jamie Codd and Derek O’Connor go head-to-head for the final weekend.

Codd managed one winner on the day when partnering Super Scorpion to take the Foremans five-year-old geldings’ maiden. This son of Scorpion was making his sixth career start here but first under the outgoing champion and was sent on to make much of the running from the outset.

Jason McKeown aboard Sidswar looked the likely danger leaving the back straight as the pair drew 20 lengths clear of their rivals but Codd always seemed to have enough in reserve to see off this challenge and win by three lengths.

The winner is owned and was bred by Siobhan Kiernan and is trained by Westmeath veterinary surgeon Mark Fagan. Sean Kiernan, on behalf of his daughter Siobhan, indicated that the winner may be aimed at a bumper later on during the summer and he also has a Milan half-brother entered in the Derby Sale at the end of June.

The Tattersalls four-year-old mares’ maiden went to the front-running Elusive Theatre under Derek O’Connor. She made all the running here and jumped exceptionally well throughout which had her rivals in trouble from a long way out. Fiddle The Till made an effort to close two out but the winner always seemed to have plenty in the tank to deal with all challengers.

A daughter of King’s Theatre, she was purchased by her handler Gary Aherne at the Land Rover Sale last year and showed plenty of promise at Inch on her debut when only beaten three lengths. She then unseated on her second start at Curaheen in the early stages but was foot perfect here and won in the manner of a smart prospect. She is a half-sister to three winners and out of an own-sister to Tresor De Mai so looks a very saleable prospect from here given a five-year-old mares’ maiden winning daughter of King’s Theatre topped the sale at Brightwells only two days earlier.

Graham McKeever saddled Chosen Dream to take the Glue Pot Open under Derek O’Connor. This fellow also had Inch form having been second there on his debut as a four-year-old behind Clondaw Knight for Johnny Berry back in 2012 before going to Jonjo O’Neill.

Placed second twice, he was rated 89 before McKeever picked him up for current owner Peggy Hagan as a prospective fun pointer and he has been an excellent addition who has never let connections down. McKeever won a Limavady maiden in October 2013 and since then, from 14 starts, he has won seven and finished second five times with one third and a fifth to complete his return. Still only a seven-year-old, he looks set to be one of the better open horses going into next season based on his progression to that level this term.

MEATH-BASED

Meath-based Darren Byrne owned the winner of the Connolly Red Mills and Raninane Farm five-year-old mares’ maiden when De Danu’s Bach under Mark O’Hare scored by just over a length from Even Though.

The latter was sent for home four out but O’Hare’s mount gradually reeled her back to lead in the closing stages and win at the third time of asking between the flags. She has also had four track runs including when beaten less than 20 lengths in a Roscommon bumper. More importantly perhaps she has two hurdle runs under her belt and could well be close to attaining a very competitive handicap mark now she is in top form. The winner is trained by Kildare handler Vincent Ward.

Rider J.J. Walsh secured his third winner of the season when Carrig Dubh won the T Toohey & Alan King winners of one. A six-year-old son of Rock Hopper, he had won a Fairyhouse maiden towards the end of April and finished a very creditable second on his winners’ debut at Stradbally last time also.

He was yet another front-running winner here as he made most and although Rosc Catha made an effort to close from the third last he never seemed likely to get on terms with this winner who is trained in Bunclody by Martin O’Sullivan.

FOURTH WINNER

Gary Murphy rode his fourth winner of the season when St Killenagh took the concluding Eamon Murphy & Sons older maiden for handler Denis Moore. This son of St Jovite was only beaten nine lengths at Stradbally on his latest start and was always close to the pace before Murphy sent him on two out. Kings Red under Jamie Codd came home best while long time leader Knockedoutloaded never gave up but the winner held on by half a length with the line a welcome sight for connections.

Moore trains this fellow near Kilmore Quay and he is a half-brother to Mykuda who was placed in a four-year-old mares’ maiden on her debut.