Neil O’Donnell

THERE was some competitive fare on show at the Killeagh Harriers meeting at Knockane last Sunday and the Sam Curling-trained B L Swagger gave further indication that he’s set for a particularly fruitful campaign by running his rivals ragged in what appeared a high class renewal of the Fogarty Bros Car Sales open lightweight.

On a very frustrating afternoon for favourite backers, the November Dromahane winner B L Swagger (7/2) was held up well off the pace as Anshan Dreams and Landmarque vied for supremacy up front.

The mare Eala Beag went into pole position at half-way and indeed, the eventual winner was still last as Louis Archdeacon’s charge led the 13 runners out on the final circuit. Western Man then injected some pace by setting sail for home after the fifth last of the 14 obstacles.

B L Swagger eased closer on the inner on the descent from three out and he swept through to lead before two out. Glenwood Knight ran wide off this final turn before the second last, bringing Nevskij with him.

The winner, a son of Saddlers’ Hall escaped this bit of a melee and he stormed clear coming to the last to account for the gallant 13-year-old Glenwood Knight by six lengths. Another veteran Dog Barrel Hill posted a comeback effort rich in promise by returning a further 10 lengths adrift in third spot.

Patrick Mullins had his first mount on the Cork circuit aboard his father Willie’s former Grade 1 chase winner Marasonnien, absent since pulling up in the 2013 Irish Grand National. Sent off favourite, Marasonnien however was under pressure in mid-division from three out and he was pulled up before the second last.

Curling, who tends to the winning eight-year-old for Tessa Foreman from Ballingarry in north Co Tipperary, disclosed: “This fellow ideally wants plenty of time between his races and we will probably run him in another open now before going for a hunters chase.”

B L Swagger’s rider Derek O’Connor, fresh from his three-timer at Templenacarriga the previous afternoon, went away with two winners for he was earlier on the mark aboard Pierce Power’s newcomer Mr Brinkley in the Tattersalls and Pegus five-year-old geldings’ maiden. In a race that featured seven first-timers, Mr Brinkley (5/1) was another to arrive from off the pace.

The successful son of Scorpion always took the eye in running and the well-supported Carrigmoorna Matt went on before the fourth last.

Mr Brinkley eased closer in fourth on the descent from three out and he could be called the most likely winner from that point. He moved through to lead at the second last and while runner-up Carrigmoorna Matt still held every chance at the final fence, the half-brother to Carrigmoorna Rock was still one and a half lengths adrift at the line. Dark Mahler hinted that his turn won’t be long in coming by securing the minor honours, a further three and a half lengths adrift.

The Alexandria Gardner-owned Mr Brinkley possesses an outstanding pedigree for he’s a half-brother to Roberto Goldback and Hook Head-based Power indicated that his €55,000 2014 Derby sale acquisition is now likely to be offered at the Tattersalls Ireland Sale at Cheltenham next month - February 18th.

Dark Mahler’s handler Aidan ‘Scobie’ Fitzgerald experienced better fortune in the preceding Hurley’s Supervalu five-year-old mares’ maiden as his representative Kool Lady vindicated the promise of her excellent fourth-placed effort against the geldings at Tinahely in October by landing the spoils in the hands of Richie Deegan.

The complexion of this race however altered at the second last as the favourite Miss Eyecatcher, trained by Roger McGrath, fell when appearing to be travelling best. Kool Lady (6/1) was then left in front and she held on grimly to beat the staying-on Janes Boutique, who was shuffled back on the inner at the fourth last, by a length. Kool Lady, owned and bred by Oliver Whelan from Co Galway, is another that’s likely to be seen at the forthcoming Cheltenham sale.

Declan Queally was on board Miss Eyecatcher and it certainly wasn’t his day as Thegirlfrommilan, whom he trains, seemed to be holding Goodthynemilan when capsizing at the final fence in the Kennedys Bar six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden for novice riders.

The clear form-choice Goodthynemilan (5/4 - evens), was placed on four out of her previous five starts, was then left clear with Johnny Hurley to beat the only other finisher Thats My Goal by a distance.

In turn, Thats My Goal benefited when newcomer Promise Lake also fell at the last having been left second by the fall of Thegirlfrommilan.

Goodthynemilan is owned and trained by Dungourney-based Denis Ahern, who actually started off Colin Tizzard’s progressive Grade 2 winning novice chaser Native River in points two years ago.

The Kiely family from Cappagh struck with Inchiquin High in the Gain Horse Feeds mares’ winners of two, a race that was robbed of some of its interest when sweet-travelling favourite Sue Oscar fell at the third-last bringing down Bennys Girl.

Inchiquin High (6/1), who finished a creditable fifth in the mares’ pointers bumper at Cork last Easter, and Flights Of Fantasy then disputed the running.

The winning daughter of Mountain High took over at the second last and she clearly had the measure of Flights Of Fantasy on the flat, with the winning margin a length. The two principals pulled fully 25 lengths clear of the third-placed Michealamaystar.

Inchiquin High represents Richard Kiely and she was partnered by son Richie while another son Paul trains the mare. Handler Kiely, who has five horses under his care at present, explained that Inchiquin High is now likely to go to the track.

Ciaran Fennessy, on the mark aboard Strideout Euro at Templenacarriga on Saturday, successfully teamed up with Ray Hurley for the very first time to collect the closing Flavins Footwear six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden on Kadmer.

Last season’s Dromahane runner-up Kadmer (5/1) went to the front before the fourth last and he made the rest of the running.

While his task was simplified somewhat when the pursuing Clogheen Rebel fell two out, the winning son of Kadeed swept clear coming to the final fence.

He duly returned with five lengths to spare over favourite Braxton Hicks, who admittedly was slightly hampered by Clogheen Rebel’s fall, in the colours of the Cork and Waterford Point-To-Point Association secretary Barry O’Driscoll.

In the family

Winning handler Ray Hurley recalled providing Eoin Gallagher with one of his final winners aboard Kadmer’s dam Cherry Stripe at Lismore in February 2005.

It was Barry O’Driscoll that also owned the Anshan-sired Cherry Stripe and the Innishannon-based figure likewise saw his light blue and white epaulette silks carried to success by Cherry Stripe’s subsequent track-winning dam Cherry Ripe (by Proverb) in a Carrigtwohill mares’ maiden in 1988.

Good attendance

Killeagh, as per normal, attracted a very healthy crowd. In a welcome development, there were significant numbers of local teenagers there with most of them walking the one and a half miles out to Knockane from Killeagh village.