Neil O’Donnell

ALL roads led to Boulta on New Year’s Day for the recently-sanctioned West Waterford Foxhounds fixture, which took place in aid of the Cork and Waterford Injured Jockeys’ Fund.

There were some standout performances, none more so than from the Noel O’Neill-trained Ministerforsport who annihilated the opposition in the winners of two. Ministerforsport (2/1), victorious in the Ballindenisk confined hunt maiden last month, was having an first start in winners’ grade and he was bounced out in front by first-time partner Derek O’Connor.

He soon had Keep Back for company and this order was maintained until the latter cried enough after the third last of the 14 obstacles. Wayupinthebox soon emerged as the biggest threat but in the final analysis however, Ministerforsport was simply in a different league to his rivals as he effortlessly bounded clear on the run to the final fence to triumph by eight lengths from Double Captain, who came through to deprive seasonal debutant Wayupinthebox of second spot by a length.

“He’s now backing up the faith that I had in him last season and Derek [O’Connor] really liked him today. He will now go for another winners’ race and maybe a hunter chase then later on, “said handler O’Neill of Ministerforsport, owned by the Shout It From The Roof Top Syndicate from Carrigtwohill.

O’Connor will obviously attempt to reclaim a The Irish Field riders’ championship, but he is presently 12 winners adrift of current leader Barry O’Neill.

David Christie has long since been a major supplier of winners to the aforementioned O’Neill, whose seasonal tally now stands at 21, and the pair combined to collect the mares’ open with the admirable Maple Mons, who was recording a most meritorious 11th success between the flags.

Also victorious in a Wexford hunters chase in November, Maple Mons (2/7) edged ahead after five out and her supporters briefly had slight cause for concern as the patiently-ridden Michealamaystar moved into second holding every chance after the penultimate obstacle.

Maple Mons though asserted coming to the last and she duly defeated Michealamaystar by three lengths with an eight-length break back to Wilcosdiana in third spot.

Down The Milan returned a further six lengths adrift in fourth spot, but she was disqualified when rider Chris O’Donovan failed to weigh in and the Shanballymore-based amateur was additionally fined €150 for his oversight.

Christie indicated that the Great Exhibition-sired chesnut, shared by brothers David and Arron Charles from Donegal town and homebred by their father Ray, will now be entered for the Thurles hunter chase later this month.

James Dullea, also on the mark with former pointer Line View in the two miles, five furlongs handicap chase at Tramore, initiated an across-the-card double courtesy of Kalanisi Express in the first division of the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

Kalanisi Express (3/1-5/2) was virtually assured of victory with Stella McGrath when cruelly falling with a five-length advantage at Glenbane in November. John Barry was in the plate here and he bounced the seven-year-old out in front. The Bandon horse maintained a solid gallop from the outset and he jumped from fence to fence.

He had his depleted field well and truly in trouble from three out and ultimately returned with 10 lengths to spare over Hawk Eye Down. Owner/trainer Dullea was represented by his father and namesake and it could well happen that Kalanisi Express will now revert to handicap hurdle company off a mark in the low 80s.

The Denis Hogan-trained Broken Quest stepped up from his third-placed effort behind Eviscerating at this same venue in late-November by landing the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, a race incidentally in which there were four fences omitted due to the low-lying sun.

Broken Quest (3/1) moved through from mid-division for Paul Cawley to shadow the frontrunning Pilote De Ray setting out on the final circuit. The triumphant son of Ask progressed to challenge the long-time leader after three out.

It was then virtually nip and tuck between the pair until the winner took command from the last to eclipse the gallant Pilote De Ray by a length, the pair returning four lengths clear of the consistent Jack Devine in third spot.

Broken Quest, who traces back to Scotsirish and Sayparee, was acquired by Hogan on British-domiciled owner Raymond Treacy’s behalf for €10,500 at Part 2 of the 2015 Derby Sale.

The five-year-old mares’ maiden kicked off proceedings and 20-year-old Luke Murphy from Inch in north Co Wexford will forever treasure fond memories of the occasion for he partnered an initial career winner aboard his father John’s Bloodstream.

She brought the best overall form to the table considering that she finished second here at Boulta behind Rosie McQueen in a more competitive type of contest in November.

Bloodstream (2/1) was held up at the rear of the six-runner field and only commenced her move on the run to three out. The runner-up Going Away was by now positioned at the head of affairs and she had no reply once the win daughter of Scorpion swept to the front after two out, five lengths being the ultimate winning margin.

The elder Murphy indicated that the homebred Bloodstream, whom he owns in partnership with wife Miriam, may now be sold and she seems a mare with probable track aspirations. Luke Murphy rides out for both Colin Bowe and Donnchadh Doyle.

Previous Boulta form likewise played a crucial role in the six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden as the Paul Kiely-trained Hilly Lady showed the necessary improvement from her third-placed effort behind the smart Stupid Cupid here last month.

Upton Funk set off in front here with Felicity High in close pursuit and the pair were at least 25 lengths clear after a mile. The front runners started to come back to their field on the run to three out with the hooded Hilly Lady (11/4) and Mountain Las surging ahead after this third last obstacle.

The triumphant seven-year-old edged into a narrow advantage at the final fence and she then drew clear on the flat with Kiely’s elder brother Richie to dismiss Mountain Las by one and a half lengths. A mares’ winners’ race is now likely to feature for Hilly Lady, sporting the silks of Richie Fitzgerald from Clashmore.

Mountain Las’ rider Declan Queally didn’t leave empty-handed for he was seen to purposeful effect when driving Royal Haslar, who was placed no less than eight times previously in points, to a narrow victory in the second division of the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

The Margaret Flynn-trained Royal Haslar (11/4) dropped to sixth from the third last and Kestrel took up the running seemingly travelling best after two out.

Royal Haslar was however creeping back into contention on the inner and he stormed through to challenge at the last. He secured the faster jump here and the Pat Power-owned bay was always on top inside the final 50 yards, a length separating him from a likely maiden winner in Kestrel.

Stradbally-based Ms Flynn, also on the mark in a Cork maiden hurdle last month with her homebred Dr Mikey, later paid tribute to winning rider Queally and the likeable Royal Haslar will now be targeted at a winners’ race.

Cappagh

cliff hanger

There was a gripping finish to the six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden which was fought out by Richie Kiely and Declan Queally, who live quite close to one another in the parish of Cappagh.

On this occasion, it was Kiely that came out on top as his mount Hilly Lady fought off the Queally-ridden Mountain Las by one and a half lengths.

Hilly Lady is trained by Kiely’s younger brother Paul. The handler, himself a former amateur, reported: “Hilly Lady ran in a few bumpers last year, but she’s healthier I think this season. We’ve also put in a new gallop at home which has helped and she will now go a winner’s race.”