Neil O’Donnell

THERE was some stellar fare on offer at Sunday’s Killeagh Harriers fixture, run at its traditional Knockane venue, and the Donnchadh Doyle-trained Phoenix Way created a hugely favourable impression by recording an authoritative debut success in the Tattersalls Ireland five-year-old geldings’ maiden, with 14 starters.

In a true-run contest, Bold Gesture and Daario Naharris set the early pace with the somewhat free-running Phoenix Way (5/1) lying handy in third spot for Rob James.

The winning son of Stowaway went to the front past Daario Naharris on the descent from the third last of the 14 obstacles.

It was soon apparent that the race was only going to concern the aforementioned pair and the Monbeg Syndicate-owned bay asserted from after two out to beat the more experienced Daario Naharis by 12 lengths in the style of a seriously talented prospect.

Speedy Cargo, who finished third to Tom Malone’s subsequent private purchase Beakstown on his previous start at Turtulla in November, returned a further two lengths adrift in third spot.

“He’s a smart horse that does everything very easily in his work at home. He jumped very well out there today,” said Doyle of Phoenix Way, a €15,000 graduate of the 2016 Goffs Land Rover Sale. The winner was quickly added to next Tuesday’s Goffs UK sale at Doncaster and he hails from the same family as Commander Collins.

The Jimmy Mangan-trained Murdo Mackenzie posted a definite career best performance by capturing a vintage renewal of the Fogarty Bros Car Sales, Killeagh open lightweight under Eoin O’Brien.

Murdo Mackenzie (10/1) stepped forwards from his fifth-placed return effort behind My Murphy at Templenacarriga two weeks earlier by moving second behind former Cheltenham Festival winner Lac Fontana at the second last.

The triumphant own-brother to Oscar Delta assumed command approaching the final fence and he duly accounted for Lac Fontana, a former-Paul Nicholls charge who was having an initial start for Paurick O’Connor, by one and a half lengths.

Winter Magic, a stable companion to the winner, posted an excellent return effort by finishing a further three lengths adrift in third spot.

Mangan indicated that Murdo Mackenzie, owned and bred by long-standing points supporter Patrick O’Driscoll, will now be aimed at a maiden hunter chase.

WINNERS

Lac Fontana’s rider Derek O’Connor is experiencing a rich vein of form at present and the former champion departed with two winners, his long-standing ally Sam Curling supplying his initial success of the afternoon in the form of Longhouse Music in the Flavins Footwear, Youghal mares’ winners of two.

The patiently-ridden Longhouse Music (9/4), victorious on her penultimate start at Mainstown last month, had all of five horses in front of her from five out and she commenced her move from the third last. She led in the inner just before the turn approaching two out and then bounded clear coming to the final fence to dispose of Bloodstream by five lengths, the pair returning six lengths clear of northern raider He Knows My Name in third spot. Curling intimated that the John Duggan-owned/bred nine-year-old Longhouse Music will be kept pointing for the foreseeable future.

The Galwegian doubled up by combining with Denis Ahern, yet another acquaintance of old, to collect the closing Kennedys Bar, Killeagh & Pegus Horse Feed six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden with Ballydun Oscar.

A son of Oscar homebred by his handler’s brother Conor, Ballydun Oscar (3/1) gave indication of ability on his debut at Lisronagh in October by coming fifth to Duhallow Tornado.

The six-year-old was sent off favourite here and he effortlessly made his way into contention on the descent from three out. Having joined issue with Troll D’Oudairies at the second last, the victorious bay took the measure of Donie Murphy’s veteran from the final fence to score by a widening three lengths in the colours of the Clondun Partnership which includes Ahern’s Galway-based sister Clare Curran.

Ballydun Oscar, a half-brother to The Dawn Man whom Ahern saddled to win a Liscarroll maiden in authoritative fashion last term, is now likely to be sold.

The Hurleys Supervalu, Midleton five-year-old mares’ maiden, a race in which all nine runners were newcomers, kicked off proceedings and Paul Cawley recorded his initial points’ success of the season aboard Moskovite.

The Denis Hogan-trained grey Moskovite (6/1) had just one horse behind her setting out on the final circuit and she made smooth progress on the approach to three out. She went to the head of affairs before two out before dismissing Killisk Ben Rose by four lengths in the silks of Co Mayo-based owner/breeder Robert Hennelly.

A Flemensfirth-sired half-sister to Hogan’s recent Punchestown bumper winner Moyhenna, who similarly represents the absent Hennelly, Moskovite will now be offered for sale.

TREK

The pre-Christmas Borris House runner-up Illtellmema justified the trek from handler John Walsh’s Duncormack base in south Co Wexford by gamely getting the better of Berboru in the Gain Horse Feeds six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden for novice riders, where two fences were bypassed.

Illtellmema (7/2) and Berboru had the race to themselves from halfway with the whole complexion of the contest altering at the third last where the runner-up made a horrendous blunder when holding every chance at the head of affairs.

The successful daughter of Milan, an own-sister to Ronnie O’Leary’s three-time hurdle winning mare Queeny, landed the faster over the second last and this partly enabled the grey to oblige by three lengths in the hands of 20-year-old Tiernan Roche from Tomhaggard.

Illtellmema, owned by the Forge Syndicate from Bannow, will more than likely be seen in new colours when running again.

Fennessy back

CIARAN Fennessy, out of action since sustaining serious pelvic injuries in a fall from Lively Article at Rathcannon in October 2016, made a welcome return to action with two rides.

The Fermoy native finished fourth on his initial mount of the day aboard Norman Lee’s Cloudy Day in the mares’ winners of two.

Fennessy then went to post aboard the ‘Trixie’ Barry-trained favourite Sweet As A Nut in the open lightweight. The market leader was beaten from after three out and he ultimately came home a respectable fifth of the seven finishers behind Murdo Mackenzie.