THE John Nallen-owned/trained Minella Escape (2/1 - 3/1f) looked a horse of some potential when claiming the five-year-old geldings’ maiden on a tremendous afternoon of action at the Co Clare-hunt meeting in picturesque Bellharbour last Sunday. Forming the initial leg of a double for Johnny Barry, the Beat Hollow gelding took a forward position early and jumping impeccably, improved to head his front-running stable-mate Minella Away after the second last. From here, the imposing bay was always in control as he readily powered clear to dismiss the Warren Ewing-handled Here We Have It by a cosy six-lengths.
“This horse had done some lovely pieces of work at home last year with the likes of Minella Melody, but we just felt he needed more time, so we waited for him. He’s all of 17.2hh, with fantastic use of himself and is learning all the time. He’ll head on to the next Cheltenham Sale now,” said Nallen of his €20,000 foal acquisition who had been a promising fourth on his debut in Boulta in December.
Having recorded his first victory as a handler in the corresponding contest last year, Holycross-based Eddie Power maintained his excellent strike-rate with his select string as The Blind Piper (9/4 - 5/2JF) brought up Barry’s brace in the winners of one.
A winner at Knockinroe in October, the son of Robin Des Champs took closer order early in the home straight. Marginally heading fellow joint-favourite Elusive Star before the last the winner showed a resolute attitude to fend off Michael Hourigan’s charge by a length.
“We’re delighted with that as the last day he ran he actually pulled a muscle behind and was off for a while after it, so he’ll come on plenty for that. He’s really come back to himself in the last couple of weeks, however and will go for a winners of two or possibly even a point-to-point bumper next,” stated Power.
Rob James commenced a brace of his own aboard Star Gate (2/1 - 3/1) who claimed the opening four-year-old maiden in likeable style. Settled behind the pace-setting duo of Sambezi and favourite Petibonome, he made eye-catching progress to edge closer after three-out. Quickening clear after the penultimate obstacle, the Milestone Racing Partnership-owned bay readily asserted on the downhill stretch to the final fence and had matters well in hand before the final fence when the chasing Sambezi exited, leaving Colin Bowe’s charge to come home three-lengths to the good of Robert Tyner’s Womalko.
Craig Casey, Bowe’s stable representative, said: “This is a nice horse that Rob and Colin bought at last year’s Tattersalls Ireland May Sale. He showed a nice turn of foot there and you’d have to be very happy with his performance. Colin would have about 40 four-year-olds for the spring so it’s great to start well with them.”
Dead-heat
On an afternoon which had a number of thrilling finishes, Co Wexford-amateur Rob James was forced to share the spoils in the five-year-old mares’ maiden, with the judge unable to separate his mount Fashion Nova (7/2 - 4/1) and the Mick Winters-handled Rose Milan (3/1 - 5/4f).
The always-prominent Fashion Nova made the best of her way home from three-out until Chris O’Donovan produced the Mark Walsh-owned Rose Milan with a sustained effort after two-out. Negotiating the final obstacle in unison, both mares responded gamely to their partners’ urgings and crossed the line as one, four lengths clear of the third-placed Little Mo. It is now probable that Rose Milan will be aimed at a winners’ race with the Donnchadh Doyle-trained Fashion Nova likely to be offered for sale in the coming weeks.
Brothers combine for success
LOCAL jockey Derek O’Connor rarely leaves the North Clare-venue empty handed and patterning two winners at the meeting. He will have gained immense satisfaction from his closing winner of the afternoon for he teamed up with his handler-brother Paurick to collect the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden with Alaphilippe (5/2 - 6/4f).
Rallying well for the Tubber-born pilot at the business end, the gelding went clear approaching the final obstacle and following a good jump here, forged further ahead on the flat to triumph by five lengths from David Harry Kelly’s Mary Kane.
“We couldn’t be happier with that. To have a winner at our local track is mighty and to have Derek on board is even sweeter. To put the icing on the cake, this horse is owned by Claire MacMahon from Newmarket-On-Fergus who does Trojan work with all the horses in our yard so the success is richly deserved for her,” commented the successful trainer.
O’Connor got off the mark on the day with the Tessa Foreman-owned Alongamongmillions (4/1 - 6/1f) retaining his unbeaten status with an initial success in open-lightweight company. The Sam Curling-trained seven-year-old joined long-time leader Foxtail Hill at the wings of the final obstacle and securing the more efficient jump, edged ahead and was able to maintain his advantage all the way to the line to prevail by a length.
“He stepped up to the mark again today and did well to win. We won’t rush him back into action as he had a good race there,” observed Curling. “We’ll probably have a look at the Tetratema Cup in Gowran Park in early March next for him.”
Horse To Follow
Mary Kane (D.H. Kelly) This British-bred son of Oscar shaped with a fair degree of promise when chasing home Alaphilippe on his second career start in the closing older maiden. He should not be long in picking up a race of this type on the evidence of this effort.
Linnane honoured
A MINUTE’S silence was observed following the running of the open-lightweight in memory of the late Tom J. Linnane. Linnane was an instrumental figure in first bringing the Co Clare Hunt point-to-point to Bellharbour in 2001.