Neil O’Donnell

DEREK O’Connor gave a masterclass in waiting tactics at Sunday’s United Hunt Club meeting at Bartlemy by bringing Ronnie O’Leary’s well-supported newcomer Baden from well off the pace to claim an at times unlikely-looking victory in the second division of the Brightwells Bloodstock four-year-old maiden.

The well-touted Minella Suite and Smartplan took the 12 runners along until the former set sail for home on the final circuit. Minella Suite started to up the ante on the descent to three out as the grey Baden (7/2-5/2) was actually still last of the remaining 11 runners at that stage.

Ard Na Carraig went second approaching two out as the eventual winner started to edge ever closer. The successful French-bred really started to motor on the extreme outside coming to the last in second spot and he stormed to the front inside the final 50 yards to eclipse the gallant Minella Suite by three-quarters of a length. Kalondra served notice that his turn is imminent when a further half-length adrift in third spot.

O’Leary remarked of his wife Vicky’s Martaline-sired gelding: “We bought this fellow in France as a two-year-old and he has been working well at home. He’s a lovely, sweet horse and I thought that he would run well here today.”

Racegoers were treated to yet another gripping finish when Arnima held on grimly with owner/trainer/rider Roy Tyner to oblige by a head in the closing Liam Walshe & Associates six-year-old and upwards maiden.

Former track performer Arnima (12/1), a creditable fourth on his previous start at Dawstown almost a fortnight earlier, pulled his way into the lead at the second fence and he established a commanding advantage before the halfway mark.

On the descent to three out, it was crystal clear that the front-runner would take plenty of catching. Whilst the pack closed from two out, Arnima still held an eight-length advantage at the last and, although understandably tiring on the uphill run-in, the winning 11-year-old still held on gamely to dispense with Golden Plaisir in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.

Arnima could now take in a Kinsale winners race according to 29-year-old Tyner’s father Ernest.

NEWCOMER

Richie Kiely teamed up with owner/trainer Mags Mullins to collect the Anthony & Associates five-year-old geldings’ maiden aboard newcomer Dundrum Lad.

In a race that saw Fire And Smoke try to make all, Dundrum Lad (5/1) went into the lead on the run to three out and the winning own-brother to 2010 Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle winner Backspin could be called the most likely winner from two out. Fellow first-timer Egret closed on the flat, but he was still some two lengths adrift at the line whilst Fire And Smoke posted his normal gallant effort by securing the minor honours, a further one-length adrift.

Dundrum Lad is a June foal and not surprisingly Ms Mullins is anticipating further improvement from the Westerner-sired gelding next term.

This race actually saw the debut of Faugheen’s half-brother Telmadela, a son of Definite Article trained by Andy Slattery. He made a couple of minor errors and was well out of contention when pulling up before the second last.

TITLE HOPES

Donnchadh Doyle did his handler’s championship title hopes no harm by saddling the physically-imposing newcomer A Genie In Abottle to oblige in the first division of the four-year-old maiden.

A Genie In Abottle (4/1), a horse with a lovely low head-carriage, always travelled with panache for Barry O’Neill in second spot as Ryalex took the 10 runners along.

Ryalex gave way to favourite Black Ace before the second last except that the victorious son of Beneficial was soon in the market-leader’s slipstream. A Genie In Abottle eased his way into pole position before the final fence and the €36,000 2014 Goffs Land Rover Sale acquisition then surged clear on the flat to account for Black Ace by two and a half lengths. The likelihood is that the Monbeg Syndicate-owned A Genie In Abottle will now be offered at Brightwells sale at Cheltenham on Thursday, May 28th.

Owner/trainer/breeder Roy Tector sent out Clearly Capable to score with talented 5lb claimer Eddie Keating in the McCarthy Insurance Group winners of one.

Clearly Capable (8/1), who was beaten by a distance into fourth spot on his previous start at Monksgrange in late March, made smooth progress from the fourth last to challenge Freddies Portrait and King Of Milan on the descent to three out. The winning son of Bienamado led on the outer at the third last fence and was always travelling best thereafter.

The favourite Lisnagar Star went second at the final fence but he was still some four lengths adrift of the triumphant six-year-old at the line. Clearly Capable could improve sufficiently to make his presence felt over fences this summer.

Ciaran Fennessy has come in for plenty of opportunities from Michael Winters of late and the pair combined to collect the Tattersalls & Coolmore Stud five-year-old mares’ maiden with Native Lass, a fine third to Goodnightirene on her only previous start in what appeared a vintage Dromahane maiden last month.

Native Lass (5/2) and Truckers Sally disputed the running from five out until the former went on with three fences remaining. The winning daughter of Beneficial, representing holidaying New Ross-based owner Mark Walsh, duly defeated Theatre Mole by two lengths. Winters intimated that Native Lass, a mare that he believes holds a bright track future, will now be left off for a summer’s grass.

TREMENDOUS CAMPAIGN

Padraig Higgins is likewise experiencing a tremendous campaign and the Ballynoe-based operator sent out his sixth points’ winner of the season following the authoritative success of the hooded Carlo Paddocks in the Denis Barry, Bartlemy & Glenview Stud confined hunt maiden.

The previously twice-raced Carlo Paddocks (3/1-2/1) made virtually all the running with Larry Murphy and he stylishly asserted from two out to dismiss the favourite Predestined by seven lengths. It’s possible that the six-year-old Carlo Paddocks, whom Dave Shorey from Britain owns in partnership with Higgins’ wife Anne-Marie and John Twomey, will be tried over hurdles on good ground during the summer.

HORSES TO FOLLOW

MINELLA SUITE (J. Nallen): Closely related to Go Roger Go and Apache Stronghold, this fellow tried to make virtually all on his debut behind Baden being beaten three-quarters of a length into second. He’s an embryonic chaser and he should have little difficulty in making a big name for himself over middle to longer distances on the track.