Sarah-Ann Madden
AT the Corbeagh House fixture last Sunday, there was great excitement in the Currygrane Fishing Lodge five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden when the locally trained The Pierre Lark (3/1) came home in front for handler Robert Brabazon ridden by Barry Browne. The son of Pierre showed a good turn of foot when quickening clear approaching the straight and kept on gamely for a four-length victory over the Shark Hanlon trained Oak Vintage.
An elated Brabazon reported afterwards: “I own this lad with my son Ben who is over in Australia at the moment. He will be delighted to learn of the news. We will probably go for another race with him or we might try and sell him at one of the upcoming sales.”
There was a dramatic finish to the opening McCoppin Family and Connollys Red Mills four-year-old maiden with Baracalu and Hungryhero both coming to grief at the final fence while still in contention.
It was the debutant Carrig Cathal (3/1) who came through to win under Jamie Codd for handler Robert Widger. The son of Fair Mix was very lucky not to be brought down by the final fence fallers. Paul Roche son of the winning owner reported afterwards: “We thought he was a real bumper horse, Jamie still thinks he is. He was very lucky at the third last where he made a bad mistake, he did very well to recover and despite being left in front at the last Jamie felt he would have won anyway.”
FAMILIAR COLOURS
The familiar colours of James Grace were back in the winner’s enclosure after De Bennette (7/2) landed the `Mind Our Men’ Pieta House, Help For Suicidal Distress five and six-year-old upwards mares’ maiden in the hands of Roger Quinlan. This well-bred daughter of Beneficial put in a fine performance to register a six-length victory over Hillview Chloe.
James Grace the winning owner and handler reported afterwards: “She was really tough out there today, we really thought she might have needed it and we weren’t expecting her to win so easy. We will either go for another point-to-point or maybe a mares’ beginners’ chase.”
James Graces’ colours were previously carried by top class National Hunt performers Mick The Man and Mark The Man.
Don Atkinson, last years’ Angelsey Lodge Personality Award winner, continued his rich vein of form when coming home in front in the Netting Systems and Reilly Structural Steel winners of three contest aboard Ringrone Castle (6/4). It was the gelding’s second win in a week having previously won at Ballinaboola last weekend. The son of Bach put in an equally good performance and looks a progressive type.
The winning rider stated afterwards: “I would love to hang on to him and win a few more before we sell him.”
JUMPING EXHIBTION
The Quinns Supply Stores Ltd open lightweight attracted only three runners but spectators were not left disappointed with The Hard Hat (1/1 joint-favourite) and Gullivar (1/1 joint-faourite) battling it out from before the straight. It was the David Christie -trained The Hard Hat who came out on top having put in an exhibition of jumping under Rob James.
A delighted winning handler Christie stated afterwards: “He wasn’t right the last day at Rockfield, he didn’t jump or travel. We then discovered that he had an abscess on his wither and since we have treated that he appears back to himself and he jumped great out there today.” The winning handler also remarked, “We were very lucky we made it as we got a flat tyre on the way down but managed to get a replacement lorry and made it here with only 25 minutes to spare.”
The Rawles seven-year-old and upwards novice riders race saw a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure for Croom based handler Matthew Daly after his charge Hit The Upright (3/1) came home in front. The eight-year-old had previous snippets of form and performed well here under John O’Connor to score by a convincing six lengths.
An elated Daly reported afterwards: “I am just thrilled he won, he got his splints done over the summer and has really come into himself. My brother Denis does plenty of work with him and a lot of the credit must go to him along with John Doabe who also gives us a hand. We were very unlucky at Lemonfield last season, he was running a big race before he fell two fences from home.”
O’Connor’s first
JOHN J. O’Connor recorded his first points’ winner aboard Hit The Upright for owner-handler Matthew Daly. Daly was recommended to use O’Connor by fellow Jockey Ciaran Fennnessy who has worked with the young jockey at Eugene O’Sullivan’s Mallow base.