Margie McLoone
CURRENT Exchange won for the first time in this country, on his fourth attempt, when easily landing the Tattersalls Ireland open lightweight for the George Mernagh trophy at the Louth Foxhounds’ meeting on Sunday.
The winner of eight point-to-points in Britain and three hunters’ chases, the Beneficial nine-year-old took up the running at halfway in the cross-country race and, although joined by the long-absent Johnnyofcourse three out, went away up the run-in to score by five lengths.
“I’m absolutely delighted to win this race and a massive thanks to Tattersalls,” said successful 5lbs-claiming rider Tim Donworth. “George Mernagh used to deal with my parents (Horora and Bobby) through our Round Hill Stud and it means a lot to win this trophy. We’ll keep running the horse in opens and all cross-country races with the La Touche being our target at the end of the season.”
Owned by Kaniz Bloodstock and trained by Gordon Elliott, Current Exchange was sent off a 5/2 (from 6/4) chance with Theroadrocroker, who won a similar race here in October, being supported in to 1/1 from 5/4.
For the third time this year, Jamie Codd and the favourite came to grief but the reigning champion rider did record three victories on the day, the first coming on Kayf Supreme (6/4-2/1-7/4) in division two of the Gravediggers Pub five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The Kayf Tara bay looked like winning easily when, having led before three out, he went into the final fence well clear of his pursuers. However, he went through the top of the fence and, slowly away, had to be pushed out up the climb to hold off the never-nearer Presiding by one and a half lengths.
“This is a nice staying horse for the future,” said Jim Dreaper who trains the winner for Alan and Ann Potts. “He will probably go over hurdles in January before being sent chasing next season.”
In the February National Hunt Sale mares’ winners of two, Codd’s brother William gave him the leg-up on Bothermenot (5/4-7/4-2/1) who was held up as Waltz Legend tried to make all the running.
This pair were the only ones to count from the second last and although Waltz Legend had far more experience than her rival, she had no more to give when the favourite drew alongside at the last and, on the outer, battled on to score by a neck.
“This was a fact-finding mission and a big step-up,” said William Codd of the successful Publisher five-year-old who had won her maiden last time out at Lingstown. “Jamie said she ‘missed’ the last two fences so that was a very good effort.”
Codd, the rider, brought up his treble in the second division of the concluding older horses’ maiden on Macetown Gale (4/1-5/2) who led at the third last fence and stayed on the better to see off newcomer The Bishop by two and a half lengths.
The winning Old Vic six-year-old is owned by local trainer Garvan Donnelly who commented: “We always thought that she was alright. We won’t overrace her as she’s nicely bred (family of Harbour Pilot, etc) and she’ll probably be covered early next year.”
The Bishop’s rider Johnny Barry landed the first division on Oberon Blue (4/1-5/1) who headed the longtime leader Tango Louvo (6/4-2/1) before the turn for home and stayed on strongly to pass the post six lengths clear of the once previously-raced Devil’s End.
The winning Presenting gelding is trained by Matthew Smith for his father Kevin who revealed: “We expected him to win. He’s a lovely horse who is just coming to hand now. He’s for sale.”
Racing opened with an impressive all-the-way performance by Drumlee Sunset (5/1-8/1-5/1) in division one of the 40th Derby Sale Anniversary four-year-old maiden.
With his mount jumping impeccably, Noel McParlan once again gave an exhibition of riding in front and, once safely over the last, sent the Royal Anthem gelding on to beat fellow newcomer What A Moment by four lengths. The favourite Ballyluskey, who too was making his debut here, was another six lengths back in third.
“We thought he would run a big race,” said the rider’s father and owner/trainer of Drumlee Sunset, Sean McParlan. “He’s a real good horse and proved it there. If he’s not sold, he’ll go for a bumper.”
Derek O’Connor initiated a double in division two on Yorkhill (4/1-2/1-3/1) who had looked set to win his maiden on debut at Toomebridge last month before parting company with his rider well after the second last fence.
Here, the Presenting gelding was left in front three out, where the leading Hey Bill fell, and fortune went his way at the next where the debutant De Bene Esse, who ran wide into the home straight, ducked out to his left. Always prominent, the 5lbs-receiving Allenstown Kid kept on from the last but could never get to the winner who won more easily than the two and a half length margin might suggest.
No doubt a new home will soon be found for the winner who is trained by Colin McKeever for Wilson Dennison.
Thomas Murphy’s well-exposed Island Master (6/4-1/1-2/1) made all the running to fill O’Connor’s brace in division one of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden where he gave 5lbs and a five-length beating to Carrig Dubh.
“He’s a nice horse and was due that win as he was beaten by a couple of good horses last year,” said Liam Burke who was making one of his rare forays north. “I’m not sure what he will do next but he will make a fine chaser in time.”
O’Connor, now on the 21-win mark for the season, was denied a treble in the Lougher Stables five-year-old mares’ maiden. Here, the Burke-trained Easter In Paris, who made much of the running from halfway, was collared at the last by Garryduff Beg (5/1-6/1) and was three and a half lengths down at the line.
Sean Gavin’s homebred Flemensfirth mare is trained by Aidan Fitzgerald and was ridden by Richie Deegan.
HORSES TO FOLLOW
WHAT A MOMENT (W.F. Codd): This good-looking Milan gelding ran into a smart type in the first division of the four-year-old maiden but, in finishing second, was six lengths clear of the third-placed favourite. The bay, who comes from the family of Boyneside, is out of an unraced Beneficial half-sister to the blacktype winner Seven Is My Number (by Pistolet Bleu).