Eoghain Ward

FERMANAGH trainer David Christie has enjoyed a near domination of the open lightweight division this term, as he recorded his fifth victory in the category in as many weeks, at Dowth, when his mare Maple Mons (7/1) proved much too good against the boys in the Province 5 Security sponsored feature open race which was confined to novice riders.

Racing prominently throughout in a strongly-run contest, the Great Exhibition mare was left clear once the 5/4 favourite Quiet Account crashed out at the fourth last, and none of the remaining seven horses who were left running at that point could launch a threatening challenge, as she finished five lengths clear of Art Lord to provide winning rider James O’Sullivan with his second career success, on what was his first ride for Christie.

Placed in 19 of her 34 pointing starts, the seven-year-old has been a thoroughly consistent race mare for her Donegal owners David and Aaron Charles.

“She was working just as good as The Hard Hat and You Must Know Me at home, so we knew she was fit and she never lets me down,” commented Christie, adding: “There is no mares’ open for her this side of Christmas so we’ll have to take on the geldings’ again.”

Tipperary trainer Andrew Slattery regularly produces a number of smart youngsters each season, and Shewd Tactics (6/1), the winner of the James Gogarty Stone four-year-old maiden, looks to be one such promising individual.

Always settled within the first half-dozen in the hands of Damian Skehan, the Broadway Flyer gelding made a decisive move at the back of the third-last fence, producing a noteworthy turn of foot which proved much too good for his 11 rivals as he returned six lengths clear of Patricks Park, with the favourite, Le Fou Royal and Jamie Codd, an early casualty departing at fence two.

Running in the colours of Dan Breen, the successful owner who is from Dundrum, Co Tipperary, also enjoyed points success with the winners half-brother Pure Poteen, and like that horse, this chesnut gelding is likely sales bound.

The Liz Doyle-trained Tomngerry (8/1) was the second of three debutants to return victorious in the four maidens run on the six-race card, when he ran out the three and a half length winner of the Mills Selig Solicitors five-year-old geldings’ maiden under Johnny King.

Settled in mid-division in the seven-runner affair, the Craigsteel gelding was sent for home alongside fellow newcomer Markov at the third last, and the pair quickened impressively, almost matching strides into the tight home bend, where the latter stumbled, losing his rear footing, which was influential in deciding the eventual extent of the winners’ victory.

“He is a lovely horse that we thought would go close here and he will now go to the sales,” reported the winning Wexford-based handler who was recording her first success of the new campaign.

It may have taken Skip A Beat Kid (1/1 favourite) seven starts to shed his maiden tag, however the Kalanisi gelding has really grown into one of the most consistent horses within the winners’ category at present since that Ballydarragh success last year, as victory here in the Fleet Financial winners’ of two, provided the six-year-old with a third career success, and he has yet to finish outside of the placings in all completed starts since that initial maiden success.

RESTRAINT

Ridden with restraint by Rob James, the bay gelding, in the colours of Marie Brennan, steadily made progress throughout the second half of the contest, and although unable to fully dismiss the persistent attentions of his chief rival Tom’s Last Euro, the well-supported favourite, duly obliged by a length and a half.

“He was unlucky to unseat Barry (O’Neill) at Castletown the last day, but he did it well here and we will keep him to points this season if he is not sold beforehand,” commented winning handler John Paul Brennan.

On a tough day for favourite backers, with just one favourite obliging, Point Of Destiny (12/1) was the biggest priced winner of the afternoon when returning a somewhat fortunate victor of the concluding Boyd Stores mares’ maiden for Ray Cody.

The Paul Stafford-trained Bawnogues Bahri, who had finished second at Loughrea just seven days earlier, was in front and travelling strongly when running out approaching the third last, and this left the eventual winner clear to record a three-quarter length success over Lady Brown.

In what was a significant step-up for the winning Golan mare, the six-year-old had pulled-up in four of her last five victories. Tipperary-based Donal Barry, who owns, trains and bred the bay mare, reported that she would likely go for a winners’ contest next.

A second double figure priced winner on the afternoon, Killaro Boy (10/1) made a convincing debut as he appeared to jump and travel with ease in the hands of Barry Browne for Westmeath handler Adrian Murray.

PARTNERSHIP

Bred by part owner John Victory from Edwardstown in partnership with Castletown-Geoghegan-based William Moran, the Mr Dinos gelding raced prominently throughout, hitting the front approaching the penultimate fence once heading fellow outsider Ethan Edwards, and from that point onwards, he was not for stopping, defeating the staying on Important Moment by five lengths.

“He is a fair horse and did it well,” reported Murray who currently has six horses in training, adding: “There are no immediate plans for him but he might be sold now.”