WEXFORD rider Rob James secured riding honours on the afternoon when recording a treble in the saddle.
The Donnchadh Doyle-trained Gunsight Bridge (2/1-3/1) got the afternoon off to a good start for James, when running out an impressive winner of the opening four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The front-running son of Midnight Legend quickened away smartly in the colours of the Monbeg Syndicate, coming home four lengths clear of Pats Fancy. Jim O'Neill representing the winning handler commented: “He is a beautiful horse, Donnchadh (Doyle) filled me with a lot of confidence coming up here. He will head to the sales now.”
Atlantic Blaze (5/2 joint-favourite) brought up the second leg of the treble for Rob James when getting up in the dying strides to secure victory in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden, following a thrilling finish.
Fourth on her debut at Toomebridge back in the autumn, the daughter of Kalanisi overcame a layoff of 225 days to deny the front running Frank And Honest by a neck.
Owner/trainer Mark McNiff stated afterwards: “She ran well the first day of the season. She had a small setback after that so we gave her a break. This is a good mare, she works very well at home. We will talk to the owners now with regards to future plans.”
The winners’ contest saw Rob James bring up the treble on the afternoon, courtesy of the Colin Bowe-trained Golden Nomad (5/2 favourite), who was also in action on the opening days of the season when taking a four-year-old maiden.
Second on his last two starts this spring, the son of Gold Well survived a final fence mistake before going away to beat Clonguile Way by three lengths.
“He is a horse who is improving away and he loved the ground and will probably go for another winners’ race now,” commented the winning rider of the Milestone Partnership-owned gelding.
Doyle lands double
BRIAN Lawless was seen to good effect when partnering his fourth winner of the campaign aboard the Monbeg Syndicate-owned Premier D’Troice (10/1), providing handler Donnchadh Doyle with a double in the process.
Fifth on his previous two starts under rules, the French-bred secured victory with a fine leap at the final fence, before going on to beat Freedelivery by half a length.
With the successful handler on duty at Ballindenisk, his brother Sean Doyle, who indecently saddled the runner-up, commented: “We will probably go back to the track with this lad.
“He is a horse that is still a bit green, he had two runs over hurdles last summer and it really educated him. He will go for a maiden hurdle now.”
Diarmuid’s day to remember
IT was a day to remember for Diarmuid Moloney who recorded the first success of his career in the adjacent maiden aboard Rockin Roxtown (5/1).
Sporting the colours of Robbie Clancy, the seven-year-old bounced out and made every post a winning one, before quickening away to secure a comprehensive three-length success over Paddy Buns.
A delighted handler Niall Kelleher was on hand to say: “It’s great to give Diarmuid his first winner, he rides out a good bit for me and a he is a lad with a big future. We will aim this horse at a winners' race now, we got him privately and he is a good fun horse to give Diarmuid a bit of experience.” Based between a few shrewd local trainers such Joe Ryan, Niall Kelleher and Brian McMahon, Maloney certainly looks well capable of capitalising on future opportunities in the saddle.
Eleven up for Music
LONGHOUSE Music (4/6 favourite) recorded her 11th success of the season in the open. This saw the 10-year-old draw one clear of Kruzhlinin in the battle to be crowned champion pointer, although the aforementioned matched this tally 30 minutes later at Ballindenisk. Ridden by Derek O’Connor, the John Duggan-owned mare tracked the leader Sammantom for much of the contest before sweeping through at the final fence, going away to win by a length and a half. “She was very good there. Sammantom made it a good race so we are delighted. I see Kruzhlinin is due to run today as well, they are two great horses and hopefully they stay sound and fight out the title until the end of the year. We will probably aim for the two mares’ opens on the last weekend now,” said handler Sam Curling.
Horse to follow
HONEY COME HOME (Pat Doyle) This Mahler daughter ran a huge race when beaten less than a length in third in the five-year-old mares’ maiden. She could take plenty of beating when she reappears.
Safest conditions
THE Galways Blazers can be commended for all the work which took place to ensure the safest conditions possible were provided for racing on the day. Over 40 tractor drawn tankers of water were to irrigate the track in the week prior to racing, while many of the divots were also filled in with sand. These efforts combined with a fantastic cover of grass ensured a good day’s racing with 47 runners across six races.
Best turned out
THE Equine Warehouse kindly sponsored the best turned out prizes in all six contests on the day. This touch was certainly appreciated by those leading up on the day, as it is a great recognition of the hard work and dedication that takes place not only at the races but also in the background at home. The sponsor is one of Ireland’s leading equestrian retailers, based in Clonmel, Tipperary.