THE Fermanagh Harriers kicked off their two-day point-to-point fixture last Friday evening at the scenic Necarne Castle in Irvinestown.
Denis Murphy recorded his 20th winner of the season as Lifeisahighway (2/1 - 4/1) took the five-year-old geldings’ maiden under Jamie Codd.
A half-brother to Grade 3 winner Little Josh, the Court Cave gelding was purchased by Martin Keating bloodstock for £27,000 at the Goffs UK Spring Stores Sale in 2017.
Sporting the familiar orange silks of handler Murphy, Lifeisahighway was produced to lead at the penultimate fence and went clear to post a five-length success from the Peter Flood-trained newcomer A Ladies Milan.
The winning handler commented: “He has had some nice runs but we made the mistake a few times of running him on bottomless ground which just doesn’t suit him. He should win plenty of races and will head to Doncaster in a few weeks.”
HIGH HOPES
Noel McParlan also got on the scoreboard to keep his hopes alive for his fourth northern title as Décor Irlandais (4/6 - 4/7 favourite) took the winners of three race for geldings.
The Noel Kelly-trained runner was held up in the early stages and having travelled well throughout, the six-year-old went to the front before the final fence and gained a smooth success from Puff My Pistons by four-lengths in this six-runner contest.
The winning handler Kelly remarked of his wife Shauna’s charge: “It’s great to get another winner for Noel and keep him in with a chance for the title. He did that easily today and looked a different class. He could run again in the open at Loughanmore next week.”
Second on her debut at Turtulla before a below par effort at Monksgrange, the Donnchadh Doyle-trained Lady Tremaine (2/1 - 3/1) confirmed the promise of her debut effort to score in nice fashion in the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden.
In what looked a competitive 14-runner maiden, Derek O’Connor’s mount, I’ll Be That Lady made much of the running from the Paul Pierce-trained newcomer Midnight Shuffle, but the Monbeg Syndicate-owned Lady Tremaine took closer order at the penultimate fence and went clear before the last to record a facile seven-length success.
The daughter of Kalanisi was purchased for £8,000 at the Goffs UK Spring Store sale last year and is a half-sister to eight-time winner Loughalder and three-time winner Honey Bach.
Cormac Doyle commented on behalf of his absent brother Donnchadh: “She did that well. Gearoid and Donnchadh bought her from a good friend of ours Richard Busher from Wexford. In fairness to her she is a tough mare and looks good. She will go to the sales now.”
DOUBLE
Wexford handler Colin Bowe recorded a double at the Co Fermanagh venue initiated by the Milestone Racing Partnership - owned Frilly Frock (2/1 – 3/1 favourite) in the five year old mares’ maiden.
The Mahler mare gained compensation for her narrow defeat at Broughshane six days earlier when recording her maiden success under Barry O’Neill.
Bowe said: “She had plenty of placed form and deserved to win today. She is a genuine mare, jumps well and has a great attitude. She is entered for the Doncaster sales.”
Frilly Frock was up with the pace for much of the contest and had enough at the finish to hold off Rarest Diamond by four-lengths.
Bowe’s double was completed in the concluding older mares’ maiden as Oscar Bonnie (1/1 - 6/4 joint-favourite) made all under novice rider Jordan Gainford.
Purchased by Bowe and Gainford for £4,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Ascot March sale this year out of Michael Hourigan’s Lisaleen stables, the daughter of Oscar is a half-sister to the Paul Nolan trained five-time winner The Mooch and was second on her most recent outing at Monksgrange.
Oscar Bonnie made all in the six-runner contest and scored by two and a half-lengths from Killimorrie.
Bowe indicated the winning seven-year-old could contest a mares’ winners’ race next.
Maxine O’Sullivan scored in the ladies open with Sam Curling to make all on Sound Money (2/1 – 9/4).
The odds-on favourite Kruzhlinin failed in his bid to join Longhouse Music on the 10- winner mark as the Margaret O’Meara-owned Sound Money made all for a facile success in the three runner event.
Rory O’Meara commented: “I’m delighted with that success. We thought the hunter chase at Cork over two and a half miles would have suited but that didn’t work out. He was highly strung so we have sweetened him up and Sam has improved his jumping.
“Maxine is top-class and gave him a great ride from the front. He will head to Ballingarry next which is a local track for us.”
HORSE TO FOLLOW:
I’LL BE THAT LADY
(I. McCarthy): Improved from her initial outing at Dromahane and with further progression expected the Mahler mare should take her maiden race in the near future.
MAXINE O’Sullivan was seen to good effect on the Sam Curling-trained Sound Money to record her fourth victory of the season, leaving her just one winner behind Susie Doyle in the race to be champion lady rider.
Liz Lalor’s success on Tom Keating’s Who’s In The Box at Bartlemy on Sunday also moved her to the four winner mark ensuring all is still to play for in the title race over the final three weeks.
JORDAN Gainford took his second career success as a jockey at Necarne last Friday when making all on the Colin Bowe-trained Oscar Bonnie.
The Enniscorthy native won his first race at Oldcastle three weeks earlier on Airgead Suas and it looks likely that we will be hearing more of the 18-year-old.
Based at Colin Bowe’s yard in Kiltealy, the handler said: He’s a tough lad and rode a great race. He works with me full time and I’m delighted his hard work is paying off.”