Neil O’Donnell

THE expected scenario of multiple divides failed to materialise at Sunday’s Bartlemy meeting as ground conditions were quite testing after recent heavy amounts of rainfall.

The large crowd at the popular Hightown venue were still treated to an afternoon of entertainment with some 93 runners participating on the eight-race card.

Owner/trainer Donal Coffey’s homebred Ask For Glory hinted that a bright track career lies in wait on his initial victory in the Goffs UK Spring Sale four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

GOOD PACE

Justcall’m John took the 14 runners along at a good pace until last month’s Lisronagh third Overnightsensation went to the front on the descent to the seventh fence. Ask For Glory (3/1 – 2/1) was always travelling at his ease in mid-division and he moved second behind new leader Global Fame on the run to the third last of the 14 obstacles.

The son of Fame And Glory hit the front after three out with Clondaw Storm soon in his slipstream. The winner was in a different league to his rivals and he stormed clear with Darragh Allen on the approach to the final fence to oblige by an easy 10 lengths from Clondaw Storm. The Tyrella debut third On The Slopes meanwhile returned a further eight lengths adrift in third spot.

Octogenarian Coffey, who also started off Philip Hobbs’ subsequent 2010 Cheltenham festival winner Copper Bleu in points, said of the close relation to seven-time track victor Montroe: “He’s a real good horse and he’s the only one that I have run this year. The plan now is that he will go to the sales.’’

DOUBLE

Ciaran Fennessy, who only returned to riding back in January having been sidelined for over a year through injury, partnered a two-timer and he signed off aboard Jim Culloty’s Alfie Corbitt in the first division of the Anthony & Associates Agri Consultants five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Alfie Corbitt (3/1), having finished third on his previous two starts at Belharbour and Stowlin, progressed into second behind Diegos Way before the seventh fence.

The son of Arakan edged in from five out, a one that he increased quite significantly before the third last.

There was only going to be one outcome from here as the Churchtown horse readily maintained the tempo to dismiss Tullys Touch by 15 lengths. Culloty indicated that Alfie Corbitt is now likely to be sold.

Fennessy got off the mark by teaming up with four-horse handler Ivan Walker, who started off listed bumper winning mare Three Swallowsnick in points during the 2015/16 campaign, to collect the McCarthy Insurance Group five-year-old mares’ maiden with well-supported newcomer Leverock Lass.

The Olden Times-sired Leverock Lass (5/1 – 11/4), an own-sister to her handler’s Moira mares’ maiden winner Good Auld Times, took closer order setting out on the final circuit and she mastered favourite Dowhatyoudodobest from the final fence to score by two and a half lengths in the colours of owner/breeder Patrick O’Hara from Carnew. The indications are that Leverock Lass will now be offered for sale.

TACTICS

Shane Baragry likewise departed with two winners, the Ballyoran native instigating his brace aboard Padraig Higgins’ mare DJ Sasha in the Glenview Stud & Denis Barry Bartlemy confined hunt maiden.

The hooded DJ Sasha (3/1), runner-up at Inch over Easter, was the only runner throughout the course of the afternoon to benefit from frontrunning tactics and she jumped soundly at the head of affairs.

Whilst having to be rousted along before two out, the victorious seven-year-old seemed to be in command after this penultimate obstacle.

Runner-up Milans Glory closed to hold every chance on the approach to the final fence and he ultimately failed by a length to overtake the triumphant daughter of Lahib. Owner Liam Dunleavy indicated that DJ Sasha, called after his son DJ, will now be aimed at the Kinsale winners race in two weeks time.

PROGRESS

Baragry signed off in the Liam Walshe & Associates six-year-old and upwards maiden by returning to the coveted number one slot aboard Hahadi, who was completing an across-the-card double for absent handler Michael Winters as he also struck with Winter Breeze at Killarney.

Hahadi, representing Winters’ wife Patricia, atoned for pulling up on his return to action at Liscarroll in late-March, by making smooth progress on the inner before three out.

The son of Getaway came away from this third-last fence in front and was gone beyond recall from two out as he ultimately returned with six lengths to spare over Could Be Better.

The grey newcomer Silver Forever created a favourable impression by providing handler Kieran Roche with an initial success of the campaign in the first division of the Tattersalls & Coolmore Stud four-year-old mares’ maiden, much to the joy of the 13 bookmakers present.

The James Walsh-ridden Silver Forever (6/1) tracked long-time leader Annie Mc in second spot until easing past the recent Dromahane runner-up with three fences remaining.

The daughter of Jeremy, homebred by her handler’s wife Mary McCabe, outclassed her toiling rivals thereafter as she accounted for Annie Mc by 10 lengths in the silks of Tinahely publican Michael Kenny.

Silver Forever, a half-sister to two track winners in Ruapehu and Crown Hill, is now due to go under the hammer at one of the forthcoming sales.

Luke Murphy continues to gain admirers and the stylish 5lb claimer teamed up with Colin Motherway to capture the second division of this same contest aboard Subway Surf.

The Milan-sired Subway Surf (4/1), a daughter of Milan out of a half-sister to Loosen My Load, was always positioned quite close to the pace and she tracked Takingitallin in second spot from three out. There was then little between the pair until Subway Surf made her way to the fore some 50 yards out to dispense with Takingitallin by a length.

Motherway, who was greeting a second winner of the season, indicated that his wife Linda’s Subway Surf is another that is now sales-bound.

Eoin Mahon is in the midst of a purple patch and, following his 1,733/1 double at Tipperary three days earlier, the Beagh native combined with fellow Galwegian Shane Ryder to collect the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden with newcomer Ardlethen.

The Arakan-sired Ardlethen (4/1) assumed command after the second last and drew clear on the flat to eclipse General Arrow by three lengths. Ryder indicated that Ardlethen, whom he shares with Elaine Bleahen of Lakefield Farm, is now on the market. Ryder and Mrs Bleahen incidentally previously started off the smart Mister Miyagi in points back in 2014.

Entry figures

What a difference a year makes! At last year’s Bartlemy fixture, a sales company contributed to the cost of watering the Hightown track as we were in the midst of a dry spell at the time. Fast forward a year and plenty of horses still have not run yet due to the unusually wet winter/spring. There were 232 entries at Bartlemy, but ground conditions were still quite testing after heavy rainfall in the days leading up to the meeting and consequently there were just 93 runners.