Neil O’Donnell

IT appears that it was a case of the best wine being left until last at Sunday’s Kilworth & Araglen Harriers fixture at Ballynalacken near Fermoy. Hard Station had many of those present searching for superlatives following his stunning all-the-way success in the closing D Condon, MMC Carthusian Insurance & Butchers Bar six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

The only ride of the day for Damien Murphy, the towering Hard Station (7/2) set off in front at a blistering clip and he gave a supremely polished display of fencing throughout. On the final circuit the winning son of Bandari, who finished a creditable sixth on his only previous points foray at Boulta on December 14th, had many of his rivals totally outside of their comfort zone and he effortlessly maintained the tempo.

From the second last fence, there was only going to be one outcome as the hooded Hard Station duly came home by a hard-held 15 lengths from newcomer All Kings as Quick Oats faded to return a further three lengths adrift in third spot.

Hard Station is owned and trained by Dr Joe O’Keeffe from Tallow. His brother Bill, who also bred the six-year-old, remarked: “This fellow worked really well earlier in the week with our filly Tokenella who finished second in the bumper at Limerick yesterday - Saturday, March 14th. We will probably now go to Cork on Easter Monday for the point-to-point bumper.’’

Front-running tactics similarly worked the oracle in the Village Inn novice riders open lightweight as Louis Archdeacon’s much-improved mare Eala Beag, who was fitted with cheekpieces, recorded a gallant pillar-to-post victory with regular partner Stella McGrath in a driving three-way finish.

Also successful at Ballyvodock and Knockanard last month, Eala Beag (4/1) was quite simply breathtaking at her fences and there are legitimate grounds for arguing that the main market fancies Drawn N Drank and Always Improving paid the penalty for trying to keep tabs with her in the air.

Drawn N Drank lept out to the left at the penultimate of the 13 obstacles when giving chase and the patiently-ridden six-year-old Grand Gold came out of the pack to go second at the final fence whilst Pay The Bounty was closing all the time from off the pace.

Eala Beag is as tough as they come and she responded generously to edge out former dual British track winner Grand Gold by a half-length. The veteran Pay The Bounty bounced back from a below-par Dungarvan effort in January by motoring home for third spot, a further three-quarters of a length behind. Archdeacon, who trains Eala Beag for wife Michelle and Miss McGrath’s mother Jacqueline, is now planning to target the likeable nine-year-old at the mares’ open at Dromahane next Sunday (March 29th) en-route to running her in the mares’ hunters chase at Cork on Easter Monday.

PERFECTLY TIMED

Proceedings opened with the Doncaster Bloodstock Sales four-year-old geldings’ maiden and Roisin Hickey’s first-timer Champagne Classic arrived with a perfectly-timed challenge under Declan Queally to see-off favourite Bull Ride.

Kalondra and Knockrenehan took the field along until the latter weakened from two out. The eventual winner was creeping ever closer at this stage and so too was Bull Ride, who did well to stay on his feet following a fifth-last fence blunder. The aforementioned pair were both none too clever at the final fence and Bull Ride went to the front on the flat.

Champagne Classic (5/1) however, was in full flow by now and the triumphant son of Stowaway stormed into pole position inside the final 50 yards to oblige by a half-length. Kalondra indicated that his turn won’t be long in coming by returning a further one-length adrift in third spot.

Champagne Classic, a mid-April foal who was bought at last year’s Goffs Land Rover sale, is now likely to be sold.

On an excellent afternoon for south Co Tipperary-trained horses, Fethard-based vet John Halley struck with the Borris House eyecatcher Fly Camp in the Liam Walshe & Associates 7 Niamh Walshe Chic Beauty five-year-old geldings’ maiden, the race that attracted the biggest field of the day in 12 runners.

Fly Camp (8/1) easily moved through to dispute with T.J. Nagle’s newcomer Champagne George on the run to two out and indeed the latter seemed to be travelling best approaching the final fence. The winning son of Westerner however, found the greater reserves of stamina on the flat and he powered ahead inside the final 50 yards to eclipse the hugely-promising Champagne George by a half-length.

Tedspeed, who failed to complete the course on his final two starts, stayed on to finish a further six lengths adrift in third spot. Owner/trainer Halley, who also started off Pandorama in points, disclosed that the triumphant grey is now on the market.

TWO WINNERS

Fly Camp’s rider Pa King departed with two winners, the Holycross native earlier landing the Dairygold Pegus Feed, Gain Horse Feeds & J Linihan Transport five and six-year-old mares’ maiden with Ducloyne Lady for long-standing ally Harry Kelly.

Ducloyne Lady (3/1-5/2) bounced back from a slightly disappointing fifth-placed effort at Askeaton last month by forging to the front after two out. The James Walsh-owned six-year-old then found plenty in the closing stages to see off newcomer Gold Doubloons, who erred at the final fence, by two lengths.

Gold Doubloons’ handler Sean O’Brien and rider Ciaran Fennessy like nothing more than to have a winner at this their local fixture and the pair later combined to collect the Nelgara Steel & Swallow Inn five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts maiden, a race in which just three contestants lined up, with the mare Caballo Sin Nombre.

Fitted with cheekpieces, Caballo Sin Nombre (2/1) set off in front and she seemed a sitting duck for the odds-on Trixiebarry from two out. On a miserable afternoon for favourite backers, Trixiebarry didn’t find as much as expected and he was beaten from before the last as the winning seven-year-old dug deep to score by a length in the colours of The Robinsons Syndicate.

Fennessy was later called before the stewards for his use of the whip. He was found guilty of using his whip with excessive frequency and was suspended for two days - Saturday and Sunday March 21st/22nd.

It’s all about mares

THIS season is fast developing into a profitable one for mares and Eala Beag recorded her third success of the campaign in the novice riders’ open, while Dick Lalor’s Carrigeen Acebo likewise has really flourished this year. Eala Beag’s handler Louis Archdeacon is hoping that Carrigeen Acebo will be in opposition when his charge contests the mares’ hunters chase at Cork on Easter Monday. Now that would be a clash well worth travelling for!

Remembering former times

SEAN O’Brien was in reflective mood following the success of Caballo Sin Nombre in the adjacent hunts maiden as the daughter of Bandari is owned by the Robinsons Syndicate which include former jockey Jamie Robinson. O’Brien said;”It’s great that this mare has won here today as Jamie and I worked together at Joe Crowley’s yard back through the years when we were both just young lads.”

HORSE TO FOLLOW

CHAMPAGNE GEORGE (T.J. Nagle Jnr): A son of his breeder Joe O’Donoghue’s stallion Acambaro, this grey always travelled with purpose on his initial outing. He seems to possess plenty of speed and, while points success is assured, he also strikes one as a probable track winner with another season under his belt.