Neil O’Donnell

COLIN Bowe is well on course to win yet another handlers’ championship and the Milestone Stables operator continued his dominance of this season’s four-year-old maidens’ by combining with Barry O’Neill to collect both divisions of the Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham Sales-sponsored race at the Dawstown meeting, run under the auspices of the Muskerry Foxhounds, at Birch Hill on bank holiday Monday.

Bowe remarkably brought his tally of individual four-year-old winners to an unprecedented 16 following the authoritative debut success of One Forty Seven in the second division.

Well-touted beforehand, One Forty Seven (2/1) was content to lob along towards the rear of the nine-runner field as Bulls Head was left in front by the fifth-fence departure of De Rasher Counter.

The winning son of Beneficial eased past Bulls Head after the penultimate of the 15 obstacles and he then had little difficulty in keeping patiently-ridden newcomer Go Another One at bay with two and a half lengths the ultimate winning margin. Bulls Head meanwhile served adequate notice of ability by securing the minor honours, a further four lengths adrift.

“Barry said that he’s still quite green,” said Bowe of the clearly-useful One Forty Seven, that’s owned by Brendan Murphy from Bunclody.

O’Neill had to work much harder for victory aboard the Bowe-trained Benechenko, yet another winning newcomer by Beneficial, in the first division.

In a race that saw six runners holding a realistic chance three out, Minella Rebellion appeared the most likely winner when the field turned in for two out and he raced away from this penultimate fence with a three-length advantage. Benechenko (9/4) soon moved into overdrive and he closed down Denis Murphy’s charge on the flat to lead as the line approached, a neck the winning margin with the pair returning eight lengths clear of the third-placed Fridaynightlights.

Benechenko, a graduate of last year’s Goffs Land Rover sale, sports the colours of Deirdre Bowe, who’s married to the winning trainer’s cousin Jay Bowe from Kiltealy.

INTERFERENCE

Handler Ian Power and Pat Collins, so cruelly out of luck with the disqualified Strangsmill at the previous afternoon’s Curraheen fixture, deservedly teamed up to win the first division of the Singletons SuperValu five-year-old geldings’ maiden with Coroner’s Report.

Having really caught the eye by finishing fourth on his debut at Inch on March 23rd, Coroner’s Report (7/2) had to survive interference on the inner on two separate occasions in the vicinity of the third last fence. To his credit, the winning son of Coroner readily rose his effort on the approach to the final fence and he mastered the more experienced Smartplan in the closing stages to oblige by one and a half lengths.

Slieverue-based owner-trainer Power reported that his charge showed improvement at home from his Inch debut and he is now likely to be offered for sale.

Collins, who attained a notable milestone by recording his 100th career success aboard Static Jack at Lisronagh two days earlier, departed with two winners as he was earlier on the mark aboard Sean Thomas Doyle’s Marble Moll in the Christy Buckley Auctioneers five-year-old mares’ maiden.

Marble Moll (8/1), who pulled up on her previous two forays, overcame a near five-month break by storming into the lead after two out. Whilst runner-up Doesn’tbotherme was making progress the whole time, she couldn’t reel in the winning daughter of Scorpion who still obliged by two lengths in the familiar Monbeg Syndicate silks.

Doesn’tbotherme’s rider Jamie Codd finished second no less than three times during the afternoon, but the current championship leader still attained his due reward by returning to the coveted number one slot aboard his brother William’s The Wise One in the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The runner-up Lion Of Lackabane attempted to make all here. The Wise One (5/1), who was fitted with cheekpieces, however secured a nice passage through on the inner two out and he overtook the long-time leader on the run to the final fence to oblige by three lengths with a 10-length break back to newcomer May’s Milan in third spot.

The Wise One, representing the Rinn Dubhainn Syndicate from Co Wexford, is now likely to be offered at the forthcoming Goffs UK sale at Doncaster.

Ciaran Fennessy is another that’s experiencing a stellar campaign and he gave Cloneen Choice, the only horse that Don Browne, from Cloneen, currently has in harness, a front running ride to claim victory in the four-runner Kielys Precast winners of two.

Cloneen Choice (4/1) disputed the running until going on from half-way, but he looked to have a battle on his plate when Carraig Thuathail and Barramundi loomed up menacingly on the turn before two out. Carraig Thuathail actually joined the front runner and headed him briefly after this penultimate obstacle, but the pacesetter fought back and he was always on top after throwing the faster jump at the last.

The winning seven-year-old then had two lengths to spare over Carraig Thuathail at the line. Cloneen Choice has now won three races this season and Browne is now favouring campaigning his father Donal’s homebred on the track later in the year.

THIRD WINNER

Terence Leonard, with just four horses in harness, sent out his third winner of the season following the easy success of the homebred Kings Eclipse in the closing Cork Recycling Company novice riders six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

Kings Eclipse (3/1), having given adequate notice of ability by finishing fifth to Icantsay at Dromahane eight days earlier, effortlessly moved through with the talented John O’Connor to assume command after three out and the son of Double Eclipse duly strode clear to dismiss Fraction Man by six lengths.

Leonard, also on the mark with Deirdre Connolly’s mare Ross Kitty at Lisronagh two days earlier, will now offer Kings Eclipse at The Goffs UK sale in Doncaster.

The biggest cheer of the day was reserved for Bobby Cullen, owned and trained by Mary Twohig from Upton, who gamely made all the running with Con McSweeney in the FBD, Castle Hotel Blarney & Pegus Horse Feeds five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts maiden.

Bobby Cullen (9/2), was bounced out in front and he held a commanding 10-length advantage from four out. Knocknamona went second from the third last and he held a chance of sorts when the winner blundered two out. Bobby Cullen though held on grimly as Knocknamona closed with every stride as the line approached with a neck the ultimate winning margin.

McSweeny retires

CON McSweeney immediately announced his retirement on partnering Bobby Cullen to a hugely-popular success in the five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts maiden. “That’s it, I’ve retired!” said the Ballincollig native, who was having just his third mount of the year. “It’s great to go out on a winner and I ride this horse out every day at Mary Twohig’s.” McSweeney partnered in excess of 30 winners altogether comprising 28 in points and three on the track.