THE David Christie-trained Eddies Miracle lit up the first session of the two-day Kinsale meeting, run under the auspices of the South Union Foxhounds at Farrangalway, on Saturday evening. Eddies Miracle provided this season’s champion rider Barry O’Neill with the concluding leg of a double in the Dore & Co Solicitors, Dublin four-mile open.
Futuramic and Samanntom led the six runners along with the eventual winner, who finished second in the same race 12 months ago, for the majority of the race.
This was the third points success this season for the Ray Nicholas-owned Eddies Miracle (9/4 – 15/8), who made his only slight error at the 12th fence last and surged to the front two out. It was all plain sailing from there as the triumphant 10-year-old stylishly finished four lengths ahead of Futuramic. The veteran Ches Calls Time meanwhile secured the minor honours, a further 10 lengths adrift.
“He did it very well and he is entered in the novice hunters chase at Stratford next Friday and we will make a decision whether to run nearer the time,” reported Christie.
Barry O’Neill concluded a very successful season with 58 winners. Earlier in the day he was on the mark aboard absent owner/trainer John Halley’s Fiercly Forgie in the second division of the O’Leary Insurance Group five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
On a good weekend for frontrunners, the recent Dromahane fifth Fiercly Forgie (5/1) benefited from pacesetting tactics as he jumped impeccably at the head of affairs en-route to storming clear from two out to contain De Cigar Man by 10 lengths. Fiercly Forgie, having a third career outing, is out of a half-sister to Paul Nicholls’ Grade 2 chase winner Sound Investment and the son of Court Cave was bought by Halley’s Fethard Bloodstock as a foal.
O’CONNOR TREBLE
Derek O’Connor, this season’s runner-up rider, dominated the meeting by partnering three winners. He made his penultimate mount this term a winning one by recording a 50th success of the campaign aboard his brother Paurick’s Sliabh Mhuire Lass in the Standard Life mares’ open.
Sliabh Mhuire Lass (2/1), banked a fourth success of the season, tracking the frontrunning Wilcosdiana until edging ahead at the second last. A fast jump at the final fence secured victory for the triumphant seven-year-old, who was equipped with cheekpieces. She ultimately beat Wilcosdiana by a widening six lengths in the colours of the Three Dudes Syndicate.
The former champion started his hat-trick aboard the David Fenton-trained Wait For No One in the first division of the Actons Hotel five and six-year-old mares’ maiden. Wait For No One (5/2), has been absent since finishing third to Portnablagh at Dungarvan in January, made her way to the front at the third fence and she effortlessly surged clear from before two out to dismiss Gold Time by 12 lengths.
“She just couldn’t handle the heavy ground earlier in the year and we gave her a break then,” said Fenton of his Beneficial-sired charge, a first winner as an owner for breeder Owen Hickey from Grange outside Ardmore. “We thought that she would be thereabouts today and she will go to the track in time.”
O’Connor’s remaining winner came aboard the Hillary McLoughlin-trained Fox Valley in the second division of this same contest. Fox Valley (8/1) shaped with definite promise by coming third on her initial outing at Durrow last term, was another to utilise pacesetting tactics.
The daughter of Wareed, who was fitted with cheekpieces, drew clear from two out to dispense with eyecatching newcomer Splash The Cash by six lengths in the silks of the Gold & Blue Syndicate that includes some of Ballinure-based Miss McLoughlin’s family members.
STRONG FINISH
Proceedings opened with the Zurich mares’ winners of one. Wetbehindtheears, handled by Jack Bennett for his father Syd, supplemented her authoritative Liscarroll maiden success by coming home as she pleased in the hands of talented 5lb claimer Stephen Connor.
Wetbehindtheears (8/1) edged ever closer setting out on the final circuit and the daughter of Flemensfirth assumed command before the final fence. She then swept clear to account for favourite Do You Know What by five lengths. It’s probable that the five-year-old will return for another hunt racing campaign in the autumn.
Owner/trainer Denis Murphy’s Thelongwayaroundmade amends for pulling up on his initial outing at Tralee the previous Saturday by springing a mild surprise with Jimmy O’Rourke in the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, much to the joy of the 12 bookmakers present.
Thelongwayaround (10/1), a homebred by Murphy’s daughter Bernice, was patiently-ridden and he moved closer in sixth spot from the fourth last of the 15 fences. The winning son of Fruits Of Love took the measure of long-time leader Elton Cross at the final fence to win by three lengths. It’s probable that Thelongwayaround will now be offered for sale.
Ciaran Fennessy, a regular to the winners enclosure at Kinsale over the years, combined with former southern regional points champion Pat Healy to collect the closing New Life Assurance five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts maiden with Ruairi Ruadh.
The Trans Island-sired Ruairi Ruadh (8/1), who returned from a mid-season break to finish a fine third to ex-hurdler Cousin Pascal at Dromahane last month, was always positioned on the pace. He was well in command from two out as he coasted clear to account for Touch Tight by a ridiculously-easy 12 lengths.
Owner/trainer Healy indicated that the six-year-old Ruairi Ruadh, whom he bought as a foal, may now be for sale.
Paurick’s Lass improving fast
SLIABH Mhuire Lass is continuing her progression at a rate of knots and handler Paurick O’Connor was keen to remember the late Michael Brennan, a member of the winning The Three Dudes Syndicate, following his charge’s fourth success of the season in the mares’ open.
The Galwegian reported: “It’s a shame that Michael Brennan, who was involved in the syndicate with us, died last year as he would be delighted with the way that Sliabh Mhuire Lass has progressed this season.”