Sarah Ann Madden
LIZ Lalor has strengthened her grip on yet another ladies’ title after registering her 11th victory of season when guiding the progressive James Killeen-owned Ask Mary (6/4 joint-favourite) to victory in the Connolly’s Red Mills and Casey Concrete mares open.
Despite only being a five-year-old, such has been the progress that the daughter of Ask has made this season, she went in search of a fourth straight victory on her debut in open company.
Producing a willing attitude, Lalor’s mount stuck her head down when it mattered and out-battled recent Cork hunter chase runner-up Cloudy Day by three lengths to continue her winning run which commenced with her maiden victory at Horse & Jockey just last month.
A delighted Lalor reported afterwards: “She is just so tough and just kept on going. I really thought that Roger (Quinlan) had us but she just kept finding more. The ground wasn’t ideal for her today, so I was trying to keep her in on the better ground. We might have a look at the hunters chase in Tipperary next month.”
TREBLE
Rob James enjoyed a successful afternoon at Courtown in his native Wexford when registering an opening race treble. The Donnchadh Doyle handled Needhams Gap (6/4 – 1/2 favourite) supplied James with his first winner of the afternoon when taking the opening Tattersalls Ireland four-year-old maiden.
Purchased at the sponsor’s own Derby Sale for €68,000, the son of Flemensfirth offered a lot promise when putting in a foot-perfect performance to score by three lengths. The Irish-bred gelding, who carried the familiar colours of the Monbeg Syndicate, is also part owned by the handler’s farrier, David O’Connell.
“He is a fine horse that has being doing everything right at home. He jumped so well and everything just seems to come so easy to him. He is an absolutely brilliant jumper. He will go to one of the next upcoming sales next.”
GAMELY
Richard Black upheld his excellent strike rate for the season when he sent out his third winner of the campaign as Emmas Joy (4/6 favourite) justified favouritism when running out an eight-length winner of the Stone Solutions and Tom Doyle Tiles five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.
The first-time-out daughter of Gold Well took up the running approaching the second-last and kept on gamely for a comprehensive victory over the Sean Ahern-trained Crystal Kate.
The five-year-old carried the colours of Patrick Molloy who, along with his sons Ned and Shane, also bred her.
A delighted Black said afterwards: “She did that very well. We got a little impatient – we were waiting on some decent ground – but just decided to take a chance today and thankfully it paid off. I am delighted for her owner Paddy Molloy. She is now for sale.”
Rob James was gifted his third winner of the afternoon in the Goffs Punchestown Sale five-year-old geldings’ maiden after the John Paul Brennan-trained No Hidden Charges, who was holding a six-length advantage at the time, came to grief at the final fence. That allowed the Colin Bowe-trained Rushour Ryan (7/2 – 4/1) to come through and record a three-length victory.
The son of Presenting showed significant improvement from his previous two runs to get his head in front. The bay gelding is owned by Carlow doctor Richard Frayne, who is also the horse’s breeder, and connections indicated that he was bound for one of the upcoming sales.
BACK AGAIN
Pacte In The Park (5/2), who had visited the winners’ enclosure just seven days earlier at Moira, made the step up to winners’ company with relative ease when landing the Ire Wel Pallets and Chris Hatton winner of one contest in the hands of Luke Murphy.
The previous track performer, a €12,000 Goffs Land Rover Sale purchase, made it two from two between the flags with his five-length victory over Makeapoint.
The winning handler, Simon Joe Kenny, was understandably delighted to be back in the winners’ enclosure so soon after his maiden victory and he reported: “We have been very happy with him at home. He has had his problems in the past and just needed a bit of time. He is a gorgeous horse. We just have to decide what to do now and we might look at a hunters chase.”
The concluding Kenneth Davis Tree Surgeon six-year-old and upwards maiden was claimed by the Benny Walsh-trained Colonel Sam (4/1 – 5/1) in the colours of Michael Staples. The son of Black Sam Bellamy was guided to victory by 18-year-old Sean Staples, nephew of the winning owner.
The victorious gelding, who raced a little keenly early, was settled by his young rider when going to the front after a circuit of the course. The pair kept on gamely on the run-in to see off fellow newcomer Montarlot from the Liam Kenny stable by 10 lengths.
Walsh said afterwards: “He absolutely loved that ground – soft ground is the key to him. We will look for a winners’ race on similar type ground next.”
Entertainment
THE Island Hunt committee must be commended on the great day the provided for spectators on Saturday. The good weather attracted a big crowd and there were plenty of facilities available for all, including bouncing castles for the children and an inflatable bar for the older racegoer.
Welcome back
IT was good to see James Walsh at Courtown on Saturday. He broke his collarbone in a fall the previous week at Moira but was on hand to welcome Pacte In The Park from the Simon Joe Kenny stable. The Wicklow handler was quick to call him an integral part of his team and to note the big role he played in getting the son of Walk In The Park to win his last two starts.