Sean Ward
HOLYCROSS-handler Pat Doyle continued his outstanding season when recording a double at last Sunday’s Stonehall Harriers meeting at Ballysteen.
Doyle has commenced the careers of some top-class sorts over the years and has another fine prospect on his hands in the shape of Quoi De Neuf (6/4 – 4/1) who destroyed his nine rivals in the opening Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham Sale four-year-old maiden.
Confidently-ridden throughout by Derek O’Connor, the Anzillero-gelding made eye-catching headway through the field racing across the top of the track for the final time before showing a taking turn of foot in the home straight to dismiss fellow debutant Howling Milan by nine lengths.
“He’s a very nice horse with plenty of pace and he’s from a lovely French family. Derek felt he didn’t enjoy the clearest of passages either and the plan was to be handier. I’d say he’ll be sold now,” observed Doyle of the Walter Connors-owned bay who is a half-brother to Cheltenham Festival scorer Qualando.
Enjoying his best ever campaign, Doyle saddled his 20th winner of the season as Sydney Paget (1/2 favourite) extended his advantage at the head of this season’s leading pointer standings with an authoritative triumph in the Cois Sionna Credit Union Open.
Also bringing up a brace for Derek O’Connor, the Flemensfirth-gelding scarcely saw another opponent up front throughout and had little difficulty in outpointing Oighear Dubh by five lengths to record his seventh consecutive victory this season.
“What more can I say about this fella! That was fabulous. We have no major plans for him after today and he may not run again this season if he doesn’t need to,” stated Doyle of the Roddy O’Byrne-owned bay who has now amassed an incredible 14 points successes.
On a profitable afternoon for Co Wexford handlers, Colin Bowe, who sits one winner ahead of Doyle in second spot in the handlers’ table, was on the mark as Danny Whizzbang (5/2-3/1 favourite) took the latter division of the Goffs Punchestown Sale five-year-old geldings maiden.
Drawing some way clear with runner-up Ask Ben after four out, Barry O’Neill’s mount asserted before the penultimate fence, ultimately passing the post two and a half lengths clear of the Paul Power-partnered runner-up.
Bowe, whose Getaway-gelding sports the silks of the Milestone Racing Partnership outlined: “This is a horse we’ve always loved. He was disappointing first time out in Ballinaboola but a lot of mine were under the weather that day for some reason. He seems very much back to himself now though and will be sold.”
The opening division also went to Co Wexford as the Denis Murphy-trained Serious Ego (3-8/1) showed the benefit of his debut-sixth at Mainstown in December to see off some more fancied opponents.
FINAL FENCE
Moving through to lead racing downhill to the final fence, the Sholokhov-sired gelding responded well to the capable Luke Murphy’s urgings late in the day to withstand the determined effort of joint-favourite Along The Reeks by a length and three-quarters.
“This horse has always gone very well at home. We were half thinking of taking him out today because of the ground but he’s won well. Luke gave him a lovely ride and is a good rider. The horse is for sale now,” remarked Murphy of Alan Harte’s charge.
Fellow Co Wexford-handler Wayne Kehoe will hold fond memories of the fixture as he recorded the initial victory of his career courtesy of Backintheoldtimes (8-6/1), who claimed the Enzos Cafe, P J Dore Pumps & Dovecote Restaurant five-year old and upwards mares maiden.
The Olden Times bay was produced with a menacing challenge by Shane Fitzgearld to thwart the efforts of both Siamsa Cois Laoi and Drunken Tattoo approaching the last before drawing clear on the flat, eventually posting a six-length triumph over the former.
A delighted Kehoe, who for good measure handles the five-year-old for his partner Linda Butler, disclosed: “This mare had a grand run first time in a good race at Lisronagh on ground she wouldn’t have enjoyed and she has improved for the better ground today. We’ve always liked her and she’ll most likely be sold now.”
There was a well-received local victory in the Davy Mann winners of two as Baily Fox (2-5/2 joint favourite) confirmed the promise of his second-placed effort in an open contest at Rathcannon the previous week to score for the Gleeson family.
A series of good jumps saw the Milan-gelding move to the head of affairs on the second circuit. Given the office by the in-form Billy Gleeson on the run to the final fence, the John Glesson owned/trained six-year-old kept up a relentless gallop late on to carry the day by two and a half lengths from fellow joint-favourite Arctic Road.
“That was super, it means a lot to have a winner here. He’s a grand fun horse for Billy. There’s a hunter chase for him at Tipperary in May which we may look at next,” declared John Gleeson.
Myoldman (1/1 favourite), handled in Co Kildare by the absent Ross O’Sullivan, was rewarded for some highly creditable previous efforts in similar events, with victory in the The Top Of The Town & Josh’s Bar six-year-old and upwards geldings maiden.
Produced with a renewed effort on the outside to join both Dubai Dandy and the tiring Chosen Flame at the last by Michael Stenson, the Rebecca Surman-owned Stowaway gelding secured the win with the better jump here on his way to a two-length triumph.
O’Sullivan’s representative John Sleator commented of the recent Castletown runner-up: “I’m thrilled that this horse has got his head in front as he’s done very little wrong. He just kept bumping into a better one. Michael gave a grand ride and was good and brave on him at the last when he needed a good jump.”
Kehoe delight
THE Blackwater, Co Wexford-based Wayne Kehoe, was certainly on good terms with himself having recorded his first career success as a handler when Backintheoldtimes claimed the mares’ maiden. Kehoe, accompanied by his partner and winning owner Linda Butler, said: “I can’t believe it really. I only have a couple of horses in to run so it’s great to get off the mark. I’m delighted for Linda too. Hopefully we can keep the ball rolling now.”
Surman success
OXFORD-native Rebecca Surman was all smiles following the victory of her six-year-old Myoldman in the older geldings’ maiden.
“That’s my first winner as an owner but I trained a few previously,” explained Surman who is now based in Tullamore, Co Offaly.
“I’m especially thrilled as this horse is named after my late Dad. My Dad rode in those colours in point-to-points in his time as well. He always said to me if you ever own a big horse don’t run him until he’s at least six, so he knew what he was doing!”