Neil O’Donnell

THE annual Kilworth & Araglen Harriers meeting took place for the first time at Ballyarthur outside Fermoy last Sunday.

There were some standout performances, most notably from the Sean O’Brien-trained newcomer Impulsive Star in the closing Cotters Bar & Butchers Bar six-year-old and upwards maiden.

This was the race that attracted the biggest field of the day in 16 runners with Da Baba Elephant and Irish Mustard alternating at the head of affairs until the latter led away from the fourth last of the 15 obstacles.

Impulsive Star (6/1) was soon making progress and he went second to PJ Colville’s Irish Mustard on the run to two out. The eventual winner touched the front after this penultimate obstacle only for Irish Mustard to fight back on the approach to the last.

There was still very little to separate the pair here and, when Irish Mustard sustained a crashing fall here when still upsides, this paved the way for Richie Harding’s mount to fellow first-timer Mount Oliver by 15 lengths.

The recent Bandon runner-up Dalus King meanwhile secured the minor honours, a further three lengths adrift.

O’Brien, who trains locally in Kilworth, was virtually mobbed by well-wishers. He remarked of his wife Caroline’s Impulsive Star. “This is a big 17hh horse that has needed all the time that we’ve gave him. He’s a staying chaser for the future and today was actually his first time to gallop on grass. We will probably now run him in a two and a half mile maiden hurdle.”

Sean Aherne had an afternoon to savour by sending out two winners and the Tallow-based handler completed his brace courtesy of newcomer Nicole’s Milan in the Liam & Sam Walshe Kilworth five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

West To Crossgales took the nine runners along here until the eventual winner moved past with Dinny Spillane on the run to four out.

The pursuing Aigle Allegre weakened from three out as a more potent threat emerged in the form of Alpha Indi.

Nicole’s Milan (10/1) however seemed to be clearly travelling best of all in front on the run to the final fence. The son of Milan certainly hadn’t read the script here for he jumped noticeably left-handed, losing valuable momentum in the process.

The runner-up Alpha Indi then held a chance of sorts, but last year’s Fairyhouse August sale graduate readily asserted on the flat to contain Roisin Hickey’s charge by two and a half lengths.

Aherne is now contemplating running the Eoin Bary-owned Nicole’s Milan in the Easter Monday pointers bumper at Cork, a race that he incidentally won with Justforjames 12 months ago.

Aherne got the ball rolling with Robin The Gypsy in the preceding Gain Feeds, Dairygold Pegus Feed & D Condon five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.

The hooded Robin The Gypsy (9/4), who pulled up on her previous two starts, benefited from front running tactics for she made all the running with Sheila Ahern.

Having jumped soundly in the main, the winning daughter of Robin De Champs erred at the second last.

This allowed Idrather Not Say to close but the winner, a close relation to four-time British track winner Tinker Time from the family as Optimus Prime, drew clear before the last to beat Stella McGrath’s mount Nora Poppins by three lengths.

It is likely that Robin The Gypsy, owned by the Hunt Hill Syndicate from Tallow, will now contest next month’s Gain Mares’ Final at Ballynoe.

Ciaran Fennessy was similarly in double form and the local Fermoy amateur got the afternoon off to the perfect start by landing the opening DBS Aintree Sale four-year-old maiden, a race in which all six runners were newcomers, aboard owner/trainer Pat Crowley’s Steel Bob.

Ventura Boulevard led until Steel Bob (7/4-5/4) edged ahead with three fences remaining. Denis Murphy’s Tree Of Liberty however always travelled easily and he set sail for home after the second last.

The son of Craigsteel battled back though and he touched down in front over the final fence as Tree Of Liberty blundered with four lengths ultimately separating the pair.

Steel Bob is presently the only horse that long-standing points supporter Crowley trains at Ballyoran outside Fermoy and he disclosed that he bought the bay, a May foal, from Michael Browne last year.

The admirable Bennys Girl completed the Fennessy brace by coming home as she pleased in the Jim Linehan Transport, Swallow Inn Bar & McCarthy Insurance mares’ winners of three.

The Noel Henley-trained Bennys Girl (11/8), also successful on her previous start at Ballyvodock in late-January, always travelled well and she eased to the head of affairs on the approach to three out.

The daughter of Beneficial took a couple of lengths out of her rivals here and, while having to be ridden briefly after the second last, she drew clear before the final fence to dispose of main market-rival and seasonal debutant Ballyknock Hill by three lengths.

Henley indicated that the now four-times successful Bennys Girl, whom he trains for Denis Tarrant from Kilfeacle, could now contest the mares’ hunters chase at Cork on Easter Monday.

The Batt O’Connell-trained Truckin All Night had little difficulty in justifying favouritism much to the chagrin of the 11 bookmakers present in The Village Inn novice riders open lightweight.

Truckin All Night (7/4), a former three-time track winner that was only just touched off by Drawn N Drank on his return to points duty at Knockanard last month, was always in cruise control with Johnny Hurley and he moved past long-time leader Dog Barrel Hill on the inner well before the final fence.

There was only one outcome thereafter as Truckin All Night, representing the Conna Enclosure Syndicate, powered clear to defeat veteran Vital Plot by six lengths.

A hunter chase campaign is now probably on the cards for the 10-year-old Truckin All Night.

Barry back for Cheltenham

Sean Aherne was understandably delighted to win the five-year-old geldings’ maiden with first-timer Nicole’s Milan as the gelding’s owner Eoin Barry was present on Sunday, having flown back from Boston for this week’s Cheltenham festival.

The Prestbury Park meeting is one that will live long in the memory of both men for Aherne sent out Barry’s Beantown, the mount of Paul ‘Wiggy’ Tobin, to finish second in the 2006 renewal of the National Hunt Chase.