Neil O’Donnell

FOR the second Sunday in a row, Jamie Codd dominated an Eastern region fixture when recording a treble at the Kilkenny Hunt’s spring meeting outside Bennettsbridge.

The hat-trick was initiated in the opening BBA Ireland four-year-old maiden where the rider continued his successful association in juvenile races with trainer Gordon Elliott and owner Gigginstown House Stud through Fleet Commander (1/1).

Held up in a field of six newcomers as Misfits made the running, the favourite and Fenlon’s Hill, on the inside, both quickened into contention racing down the hill for the final time.

Things got very tight coming through the gap into the lower field but, turning wide into the bottom straight, Fleet Commander led over the third last and went away to score by 12 lengths.

Colnel Martin, winner of the turn-out award which was sponsored by Godfrey and Kathleen Moylan, stayed on into third, a further six lengths behind the winner who may be put away for the season.

After finishing third in the following two races, Codd landed the Connolly’s Red Mill open lightweight on Vital Plot (1/2) who stood out on form in the six-horse field and whose success was never in doubt.

Western Island made much of the running here but was headed four out by the always prominent Lookoutnow who was chased down the hill by Castlefort and Vital Plot.

Making his bid on the outer, the favourite landed upsides Lookoutnow at the third last and jumped into the lead at the next.

Stretching clear with every stride, Vital Plot skipped over the final fence and eased clear to win by eight lengths.

“He was very distressed after his races in the autumn so we had his palate cauterised,” reported the winner’s trainer, Liam Kenny. “He hates that ground and would appreciate it being better. The plan now is to go to the Foxhunters at Aintree with him.”

That was Sunday’s plan, on Monday the 11-year-old Theatrical gelding was entered for the Foxhunters at Cheltenham.

Codd brought up his hat-trick in the Ballylinch Stud six-year-old geldings’ maiden on the always-prominent After Hours (1/1) who looked to have scuppered his chances with a mistake at the fourth last fence.

To his credit, the Milan gelding quickly got back into contention and was disputing second on the outside of Nashville Tommy as they reeled in the longtime leader Reigns Of Glory turning into the third from home.

The last-named didn’t help his cause with a mistake at the next but, when challenged by After Hours, kept plugging back. The favourite was getting the upperhand racing to the last where another error ended Reigns Of Glory’s hopes and he was eight lengths adrift of Codd’s mount at the line.

After Hours, who was second when novice-ridden on his two previous outings last month, is owned and trained by Pierce Power who commented: “This is a genuine horse who always works well and wouldn’t know how to disappoint you. He’s a real chaser in the making and will go to the sales now. He comes from the family of Ned Kelly and Nick Dundee.”

The five and six-year-old mares’ maiden, sponsored by Tattersalls Ireland and Ballinroe Horse Transport, produced an impressive winner in the once previously-raced Smart Talk (4/1) who made most of the running under Mark Scallan.

The Hubbly Bubbly five-year-old looked under threat from the more patiently-ridden Three Hail Marys at the penultimate fence but she quickened nicely from there, jumped the last well and went away up the run-in to score by 10 lengths.

The winner is trained in Bunclody by Ivy Rothwell for her father Roland who also bred the bay half-sister to two winners on the track.

The better of these was the four-time scorer Idle Talk who also finished second in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the 2006 Cheltenham Festival.

“She did it so easily!” exclaimed the trainer. “She’ll go to Ballynoe for the Gain mares’ final. She’s 17.1hh but a real quiet mare to ride at home. The last mare I trained to win was her full-sister More Talk (fatally injured first time out in England) in January 2012.”

Ivy, who also does sales preparation of thoroughbred and sport horses, was supported by her husband John ‘Waggles’ Wafer, who led up Smart Talk, and the couple’s 17-month-old daughter Chloe.

Two novice riders recorded their first point-to-point victories on Sunday starting with Shane Fitzgerald from Buttevant who is no stranger to success having partnered 78 pony racing winners.

The 17-year-old gave newcomer Clondaw Cian (5/1) a brilliant ride in the DBS Spring Sales five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Making smooth progress from off a slow pace to go third five out, the son of Gold Well got up in the final few strides to beat the Scallan-ridden Cnoc Sion and the Codd-partnered The Dutchman (1/1) by a half-length and the same.

There was a great amount of confusion in the parade-ring when Cnoc Sion was called out the winner but a large cheer went up when the result was corrected.

Leading the chorus was Enniscorthy-based Michael Goff who trains Clondaw Cian for his wife Caitriona. A sale is next on the agenda for the winner, who comes from the family of Addington Boy.

Well-known leading up runners for his boss Donnchadh Doyle, Ballindaggin’s Johnny Doyle (21) had a simple task in landing Temple Cloud (8/1) the winner of the concluding Ballyhane Stud older horses’ maiden for novice riders.

Held up in the early stages, the eight-year-old Saddlers’ Hall mare made gradual progress on the final circuit to go second at the penultimate fence.

Nipping through on the inside of Duplicate Daughter before the turn for home, Temple Cloud was five lengths clear jumping the last, extending that advantage to 10 at the line. Millfirth (1/1) was three lengths further adrift in third.

“That was great,” said winning trainer Colin Bowe, “I’m delighted for Johnny! I’ve only had the mare about three months; I’d say she’ll go for a winners’ race now.” Temple Cloud is owned by her Tulsk, Co Roscommon breeder Michael Conlon.

Tough going underfoot

THE Kilkenny Hunt was most unfortunate that heavy rain overnight and on Sunday morning turned the going soft to heavy before racing and, as the day progressed, finishers were at a premium.

Helping to push cars in and have a tractor available for towing lorries was Kilkenny member Stuart Williams whose family hosts this spring meeting at Kilbline, Bennettsbridge.

In spite of the wet morning there was a good-sized crowd in attendance. However, for the punters among them, betting choices were limited with only four bookmakers standing, a worryingly low number. On the plus side, the hunt received great support from local studs, etc who placed advertisements in the colour racecard.

Winning presentations

NATASHA Langan presented a BBA Ireland jacket to Simon McGonagle, head lad at Gordon Elliott’s Cullentra House Stables, following Fleet Commander’s success. Yoann Dulin was on hand to present a tub of EDHYA Spyr Energie to McGonagle and also to Michael Goff, trainer of the five-year-old maiden winner, Clondaw Cian.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

FLEET COMMANDER (Gordon Elliott): Purchased by his trainer for €105,000 at last year’s Derby Sale, this four-year-old King’s Theatre gelding was bred at Sean Reilly’s Balleagny Stud near Mullingar. He is the first produce out of the bumper-winning mare Corskeagh Shadow, an own-sister to the Grade 2 winners Shadow Eile and Corskeagh Royale.