THE reigning joint-champion point-to-point mare Maple Mons (5/4-6/4) put her two disappointing runs from this season behind her when making it a pillar to post victory in the Rawles Bar & Lounge open lightweight.
The daughter of Great Exhibition, who is known for her quirkiness, put in quite the display in the parade ring when knocking her handler David Christie to the ground before bolting to the start.
All the drama appeared to have little effect on the Aaron and David Charles-owned eight-year-old who won comfortably under Declan Lavery, returning eight lengths clear of Abigail Lynch, with Carrigeen Acebo back in third on her seasonal re-appearance.
A relieved Christie remarked afterwards: “This mare scares me every day, she really has a mind of her own, I won’t let anyone else ride her out and I wouldn’t mind only she is as quiet as lamb in the box. She unseated her rider at Rathcannon and I don’t know what happened when she ran loose but she just didn’t come back herself and still wasn’t right when we ran her at Maralin.
“Thankfully she is back to herself now and she will continue to run in similar type contests but this will be her last season.”
The opening Connollys Red Mills four-year-old maiden saw a fine winner in the Virginia Considine-trained Just Don’t Ask (3/1-5/2). The son of Ask jumped his way to the front four fences from home and in a matter of strides had the field at his mercy.
It was a welcome winner for the handler whose colours were also carried to success as she is expecting her third baby over Christmas. Dermot Considine, husband of the winning handler remarked afterwards: “We bought him at the Derby Sale last year. He was running a big race at Inch before coming to grief, and the form of that particular race has worked out really well. He did it very well, Anthony Fox said he never came off the bridle. We have another two to run this season, so this is a positive sign of things to come. He will go to the sales now.”
McPARLAN DOUBLE
It was a good day for Northern rider Noel McParlan who recorded a double on the day at the Longford venue. McParlan initiated his double aboard the Themagicofmelleray (6/4) in the Currygrane Fishing Lodge five & six-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The pair were presented with victory when the Simon Cavanagh-ridden Smooth Spoon departed at the final fence leaving the path clear for the Robert Widger-trained gelding to return four lengths clear of fellow newcomer Captain CJ.
The winning handler remarked afterwards: “I only have four in at the moment and they are running well. I am delighted for his owner Gerry Keane, who is from Waterford. We will go to sales now with this lad.”
The B (5/2-3/1) supplied McParlan with his second winner of the afternoon when landing the Irish Netting Systems & Reilly Structural Steel Ltd five-year-old & upwards mares’ maiden. The daughter of Robin Des Pres gained worthy compensation having being carried out by a loose horse at Grennan seven days earlier while still travelling powerfully.
The Marye Blundell-owned mare mounted her challenge approaching the straight, where three horses jumped the penultimate fence, before the Bill Lanigan-trained mare began to gain the upper hand over Swift by three quarters of a length. The delighted owner was full of praise for her mare stating: “I can’t believe it, she was just wonderful. We were afraid of the ground as she would absolutely hate that type of ground. Her jockey gave her an absolutely brilliant ride.”
Rosc Catha (1/5-1/2 favourite) followed up on his victory at Rockfield a week earlier with a comprehensive success in the Quinn’s Supply Stores Ltd winners of three. With a disappointing line-up of just two horses coming under orders, the Eoin Larkin-trained individual proved too much for the Ciaran Murphy’s Lucy Kate, who was making her debut in winners company, having been last seen taking an older mares’ maiden at Necarne back in May.
The Larkin family were overjoyed with the victory and stated their hope to make rider Shauna Larkin champion lady rider this season.
The winning owner, Michael Larkin, stated afterwards; “He absolutely loved it out there today but would have preferred to have something else in it to go on as he needs a strong gallop. We will probably go to Borris House for the open in December. Shauna gave him another super ride.”
UPWARDS
The concluding Haley McCoppin six-year-old and upwards maiden for novice riders saw the Norman Geraghty-trained Thornfield (6/4-2/1) come alone in the hands of Fergal Harford. Harford, a brother of trainer Gillian Callaghan, had set a strong pace from the get go aboard the son of Court Cave, who had run 14 times under rules, which saw all three of his challengers fall by the way side along the back straight to leave the nine-year-old return as the sole finisher.
A delighted Geraghty, who also owns the bay gelding said: “We always knew this fellow had plenty of ability and he lived up to that promise today. He can be a little strong but he settled very well today. My sister-in-law Aisling McDonogh bred him.”
The Meath-based handler added that his charge could reappear at Tatteralls tomorrow if taking the race well.
Close to walk over
THERE was very nearly a walk over at Corbeagh House on Sunday where the winner’s race saw only one horse declared to run.
Ciaran Murphy spotted an opportunity for his mare who had been declared in the mare’s open and then switched her. Unfortunately for connections, the original declared horse (Rosc Catha) still came out on top.
Considine keeping busy before arrival
A heavily pregnant Virginia Considine enjoyed her first winner of the autumn season when saddling Just Don’t Ask to land the opening contest. Due in December, the new arrival will be her third child with husband Dermot.