Neil O’Donnell

THERE were some impressive performances at Sunday’s Doneraile Harriers meeting at Dromahane, most notably from the T.J. Nagle-trained Blackwater Bramble who carried the familiar Denman silks of Paul Barber to a convincing all-the-way success in the first division of the Tattersalls five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The King’s Theatre-sired Blackwater Bramble (7/1) was sent off favourite on his debut at Ballyarthur last month, but he never travelled with any great fluency at the Fermoy venue and was pulled up. The towering bay was bounced out in front here by the talented Eoin O’Sullivan and his jumping quite literally was a sight to behold at the head of affairs.

He had Scorpo as his closest pursuer throughout and the race concerned the pair on the run to the final of the 13 fences.

The eventual winner readily rose the tempo on the flat and he was already well in command when jumping the path some 50 yards from the finish, eventually accounting for Scorpo by two and a half lengths. The previously once-raced Hecansting made a pleasing return from in excess of a four-month break by securing the minor honours, a further one-length adrift.

Nagle remarked of Blackwater Bramble, a €44,000 graduate of the 2014 Derby sale from the same family as Deep Bramble and Indian Tonic whom the visiting Barber shares with David Martin: “This fellow just didn’t operate when pulling up on his debut at Ballyarthur last month. He is a big strong chasing sort and I think that he holds a very bright future.”

TWOMEY’S SUCCESS

This fixture is one that will live long in the memory of long-standing Aghabullogue point-to-point committee member Michael Twomey for he was credited with his initial success as an owner courtesy of the Debbie Hartnett-trained Coillte Lass in the Grange Stud five and six-year-old mares’ maiden, the race that attracted the biggest field of the day in 16 runners.

Coillte Lass (9/4) certainly had the form to win this race considering that she finished an excellent second to Silent Steps on her previous effort at Liscarroll last month. The well-touted newcomer At Rainbow’s End was bounced out in front here and Michael Winters’ representative still seemed the most likely winner from two out as she still held the call over Timetobenefit.

The winning daughter of Beneficial now had all of four lengths to make up in third spot, but she responded generously to Ciaran Fennessy’s urgings by readily quickening coming to the last and she swept past At Rainbow’s End on the flat to oblige by a half-length. Timetobenefit served notice that her turn is imminent by returning a further three lengths adrift in third spot.

If not sold, Coillte Lass will be prepared for a tilt at the p2p.ie mares’ pointers bumper at Tipperary on Thursday May 12th.

Liscarroll form also proved crucial in the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden as Denis Ahern’s homebred One More Hero, who ran very well despite pulling up on his career debut at the popular Knockardbane venue on March 20th, returned to the coveted number one slot in this 13-runner contest.

Bru Boru and Big Bad Brian dominated this race, the first event incidentally to be divided on the Cork and Waterford circuit this year, practically from the outset and they still held the call on the approach to the final fence.

One More Hero (6/1) was really beginning to motor in third spot at this stage and the triumphant son of Milan swept to the fore on the inner some 50 yards out to edge out Big Bad Brian by two lengths with a further one-length back to Bru Boru in third spot. Ahern indicated that his wife Norah’s bay will now be offered for sale at some stage.

One More Hero’s rider Johnny Hurley was the only individual to depart with two winners and the 21-year-old from Conna signed off by bringing his seasonal tally to eight aboard Batt O’Connell’s Truckin All Night in the Hibernian Hotel & Buckley Bros novice riders’ open, a race that was marred by the fatal seventh fence fall of Lenamore Boy.

Truckin All Night (5/4) was then left disputing the lead and he seemed to be momentarily in trouble when dropping back to third with three fences remaining.

The triumphant 10-year-old moved back to dispute the running from two out and his task was lessened when Golden Crisp, who was still upsides, crashed out at the final fence. Mountain Lough then held every chance on the flat except that the Conna Enclosure Syndicate-owned Truckin All Night, who returned lame, held on grimly to score by a neck in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.

Vanguard sprung a mild surprise, much to the delight of the 13 bookmakers present, under Eoin O’Brien in the O’K Woodcraft Design & Rathbarry Stud winners of three.

The Jimmy Mangan-trained Vanguard (7/1) had all of 10 lengths to make up in fourth spot from four out as Carry On Asian still held sway in pole position.

Vanguard however gradually edged ever closer and he took up the running on the outer approaching the last. The victorious own-brother to Oscar Delta was clearly containing Carry On Asian when Jerry Baragry’s charge fell here and, despite being eased, he then beat Skip A Beat Kid by three lengths.

Vanguard, sporting the silks of Karen O’Driscoll, is now likely to be aimed at the Kinsale four-miler on the final weekend of the season and it’s worth recalling that the eight-year-old finished second to Luska Lad in this same contest 12 months ago.

The Goffs four-year-old maiden turned into a somewhat grief-stricken contest as no less than six out of the 13 runners fell with the penultimate obstacle claiming four casualties. The Donnchadh Doyle-trained newcomer My Story escaped the carnage and the white-faced bay led from two out and he seemed to have the measure of favourite Smuggler’s Blues when Richie Harding’s mount exited at the final fence.

My Story (7/2) was then left clear with Harley Dunne to dispose of Zolfo by six lengths and the Monbeg Syndicate-owned son of Court Cave was destined to go through the ring at Thursday night’s Goffs sale after racing at Punchestown.

Icantsay was placed four times over hurdles last summer/autumn, attaining a rating of 102, and Marie Harding’s gambled-on charge made a victorious return to points duty with James Hannon in the first division of the Dairygold Co-Op & Coolagown Stud six-year-old and upwards maiden.

Icantsay (7/2 -5/2) led until he was overtaken by newcomer Mushera Mor from half-way. The ex-track performer however made his way back to the front at the second last and he drew clear under pressure from the final fence to dispense with main market-rival Fortune Bound by five lengths. Winning owner Catherine Walsh from Kildorrery missed the occasion on account of being away on holiday in Portugal and the physically-imposing Icantsay is now likely to revert to track racing.

Fortune Bound’s handler Louis Archdeacon experienced better fortune with Tedspeed in the second division of this same contest.

Tedspeed (4/1), a fine third at Kilworth last season, stepped up from his most recent fifth-placed effort behind subsequent dual track victor Bye Bye O Bye at Inch last month by overtaking long-time leader Kinsale Arts Week from the final fence. Tedspeed, whom Archdeacon jointly owns with David Cullinane from Millstreet, then swept clear for Declan Queally to repel the likeable Kinsale Arts Week by one and a half lengths.

Ground improvement

What a difference two weeks can make! A fortnight earlier, racing was abandoned at Dromahane after just two races due to deteriorating ground conditions. On this occasion, the ground was good with just 13 fences having to be jumped which resulted in better than average five minute 40 second times.