Sean Ward
FORMER novice champion-rider Rob James continued his industrious season when partnering a treble at the North Galway Hunt meeting at Belclare on Sunday last. The highlight of the Wexford-pilot’s treble was undoubtedly the stunning debut success of Topofthegame (2-7/4 favourite) in the opening Canavans of Belclare four-year-old maiden.
Dominating from the front throughout, the imposing son of Flemensfirth, sporting the familiar Monbeg Syndicate silks, had his five-rivals crying enough on the turn into the straight, ultimately passing the line nine lengths clear of fellow newcomer No Hassle Hoff.
With successful handler Donnachadh Doyle on duty elsewhere, it was left to his brother Eamonn to comment of the close relation to Artadoin Lad: “This fellow has always been the apple of our eye. He’s a lovely big horse who we have loved from day one. He will head to DBS Aintree sale now.”
It was another Doyle-brother who provided James with the second leg of his treble as the Sean Doyle-handled Graces Island (3-5/1) caused something of an upset in the Glasán Creche mares’ winners of two. The Trans Island-sired bay entered this three runner contest on the back of a likeable triumph at Durrow last month and further enhanced her reputation here, as she displayed tremendous battling qualities to withstand the persistent challenge of the runner-up Sue Oscar.
The successful six-year-old is owned by Kiltealy, Co Wexford man J.J. Kavanagh who shares his wife Joyce’s homebred, with his son Alan. The latter declared: “This is a smashing big mare who is only coming to herself now. She has a lovely attitude too, all being well she might go to the mares hunter chase in Cork on Easter Sunday next.”
HAT-TRICK
The James hat-trick was concluded aboard the impressive Thomas Do (6/4-7/4 joint-favourite), who made light work of his five opponents in the Ashford Castle and The Lodge at Ashford Castle five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden. Another to successfully adopt front-running tactics, the John Paul Murphy-owned five-year-old, an excellent runner-up to Monalee at Templenacarriga in January, galloped on remorselessly in the closing stages to readily dismiss Telmadela by some fifteen lengths.
In doing so, the son of Flemensfirth provided his Bunclody, Co Wexford-based handler Richard Black with his first career success as a handler. A delighted Black said: “This is a good horse, he’s a big proper old-fashioned staying chaser. He’s improving all the time and will head to one of the sales now.”
The 5lb-claimer Chris O’Donovan has made a huge impression this term and further endorsed his talents when partnering a double which was initiated by the Terence Leonard-trained debutant Tallyho (6-8/1) in the Gannons City Recovery & Recycling Services Ltd five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.
In spite of racing freely in the early stages, which resulted in the daughter of Vertical Speed being sent to the head of affairs early on the first circuit, the six-year-old had more than sufficient reserves of stamina late on to fend off the patiently-ridden pair of Sheneededtherun and Whats In It For Me.
“She did it well considering it was her first run. She’s going to improve a lot from that. She will most likely head for the point-to-point bumper in Tipperary in May,” said Leonard who has care of Tallyho for Co Cork-located Deirdre Connolly.
LOCAL WIN
North Cork-pilot O’Donovan’s double was completed when he guided the Donnacha Duggan-handled Lala’s Sister (4-6/1) to a popular victory in the Flannerys Hotel five-year-old and upwards adjacent maiden. Given the office on the run to the penultimate obstacle, the Sandmason-sired gelding had little difficulty in containing the late challenge of newcomer Dark Valley by twelve-lengths.
Owned by local Belclare-native Karen Costello, the seven-year-old returned to a warm reception after which Co Limerick-located Duggan remarked: “He did it well. He’s a big green horse who is still learning. I’m not sure where we will go next as that was the plan for some time now.”
Fellow novice-rider Donal Delahunt will cherish fond memories of the fixture as he recorded his first success in the saddle aboard the hooded Cant Pay Wont Pay (4-9/2) in the concluding Westport Woods Hotel seven-year-old and upwards maiden. The George Delahunt-owned eight-year-old delivered on the promise of a fine third placed effort in a recent Punchestown confined winners contest, as he readily outpointed Just Wait And See by a comfortable twenty-four lengths.
Victorious trainer Mark Fahey said of his Flying Legend-gelding: “If the horse is well he will turn out again in a maiden hunters chase on Sunday (tomorrow). In fairness to Donal, he gave him a super ride as he got him back on an even keel when he wasn’t jumping as well as he can early on.”
Local winner
Local owner Karen Costello was certainly in good form following the victory of Lala’s Sister in the adjacent hunts maiden. “I’m delighted as I am based just down the road and that’s my first ever winner. Donnacha has done a great job with this fellow. It’s great to make the breakthrough on local ground and we’ll be celebrating in Canavan’s tonight.”
Over the moon
The 19- year-old Donal Delahunt was seen to excellent effect in the concluding older horses maiden aboard Cant Pay Wont Pay. The winning-rider said afterwards: “I’m over the moon with that, as I am actually based in Scotland now with Lucinda Russell. I was with Enda Bolger previously but at the moment I’m just home at the weekends for a few rides, so that was great. Hopefully things will keep going for me now,” concluded the Co Kildare man.