Alan Mahon
THE victory of Long After Dark (6/4) in the opening Dennison Commercials Ltd four-year-old maiden was a notable one for racegoers attending the North Down Hunt point-to-point in Kirkistown. Not only did the Colin Bowe-trained winner post an impressive performance against some big-money debutants, but he also caught the eye in the paddock beforehand.
Prominent throughout, the imposing son of Flemensfirth was challenged soon after the second last but battled to lead again at the last under Barry O’Neill and recorded an impressive four-length success from the newcomer Grange Castle Lad.
Racing in the familiar black colours of the Milestone Racing Syndicate, Long After Dark was purchased by Rob James, who rode a winner on Feel My Pulse for Donnchadh Doyle at Lismore on the same afternoon, for €30,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale last year. He is out of an unraced half-sister to multiple graded winners dual Hennessy Gold Cup winner Carlingford Lough, Thisthatandtother and The Tother One.
“I was worried today thinking the track might be a bit tight for him but Barry O’Neill said that he jumped and cornered well for such a big horse. He is absolutely massive and to do this as a four-year-old shows he is something special. He has loads of ability and will head to the sales now,” remarked the winner handler.
NEWCOMER
Another newcomer to claim victory at the Co Down venue was the George Stewart-trained I’m Here (4/1) who scored in the competitive 12-runner Albert Bartlett five-year-old geldings’ maiden. Leo Gracey representing George Stewart commented: “He’s a nice big horse and will improve again with some time. He was schooling and galloping well at home and that showed today. He really seemed to enjoy it and finished the race out well.”
The strong-looking chesnut gelding made eye-catching progress to chase leader Sad Eyed Dylan two out and battled to lead on the run to the final fence under Mark Lynch, who was recording his first winner since the 2015/16 season. The Hurricane Run gelding posted an easy five-length success from the Wilson Dennison-owned pair Skyhill and Mymilan.
Purchased for €19,000 by George Stewart at the at the Tattersalls August NH Sale in 2016, his four-year-old half-brother by Flemensfirth was purchased by Monbeg stables at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale last year for €47,000.
I’m Here is the first runner and winner out of Arctic Lord mare Is It Here, who is a half-sister to Dashing George a winner on eight occasions and second in the Munster National for Eric McNamara. Gracey indicated that the winner will now be sold.
Mark O’Hare recorded a double initiated on the Warren Ewing-trained Ground Invasion (6/1) in the Alan Dunlop Agricultural Machinery Open race.
Mart Lane took the field along in the competitive looking contest and four of the five runners took the second last within a length of each-other, but O’Hare’s mount asserted to lead at the last and recorded a six-length success from former Grade 1 winner Felix Yonger.
“He was off for two years and has come back well and improved with each race. He has loads of ability and has shown that in the past. He could go for the hunter chase at Aintree,” reported Ewing.
Tin Town Liz (2/5 favourite) brought up the double for O’Hare in the winners of one to supplement her maiden success at the same venue the previous month. The Oliver Family Syndicate-owned and Jerry Cosgrave-trained daughter of Scorpion made all in the three-runner event and looked the likely winner turning for home before the last.
A bad mistake at that fence gave favourite backers a scare but O’Hare’s mount quickly picked up again on the run-in to record a comfortable six-length success from the staying-on Commanding Spirit.
“She is a very talented mare with plenty of ability and done it well again. She made a few mistakes but it was probably because she was doing it all out on her own. This is only her second run over fences and she will improve again. She will head to the sales now,” stated the winning handler.
WELCOME WINNER
Ballyclare based trainer Jim Gault enjoyed a welcome winner when his nephew, Neil Gault, steered his homebred mare Oldtown Polly (3/1 – 6/1) to take Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham and Ascot Sales five-year-old and upwards mares maiden.
The well-supported favourite, debutant Presenting Rio (2/1 – 1/1), fell at the fifth fence and brought down the consistent Drumconnor Girl. The Publisher mare was joined briefly three from home but Gault, who was recording his first winner of the season, was soon leading again and kept that advantage to the finish recording a six-length success from Warren Ewing’s newcomer Far Away Rock.
The elated owner and handler said: “She is a lightly raced six-year-old and she only had her first run in the autumn.
“She has improved with every run finishing third last time at Armagh. She could head to the sales now.”
BOOK OF LOVE
Jamie Codd ensured he didn’t leave the track without a winner as he steered the Jim Dreaper-trained Book Of Love (5/4) to victory in the concluding Morrow Tyres six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.
In a very slowly run race in terrible conditions, the race only gathered some tempo down the back straight the final time. The Noel McParlan-ridden favourite Captain Cook got to the front at the last from the Stuart Crawford-trained Derryhale with Codd’s mount closing in third and the son of Katub picked up on the run in to lead at the line and get the verdict by a head from Captain Cook, with Derryhale a further two and a half lengths behind in third.
Book Of Love was placed in a bumper as a six-year-old and was off the track for over 15 months.
Tom Dreaper commented: “He’s a great horse to have at home as he leads the younger horses. Jamie gave him a great ride and timed his run well to get up on the line. He will run again in a winner’s race.”
Well organised
THE North Down Hunt should be given credit on a well organised point-to-point at Kirkistown on Saturday. There was a slight delay to the first race due to an ambulance arriving slightly late however the committee got back on track and the races started on time later in the day.
The wet weather and appalling ground conditions meant that many spectators left before the last race with only two bookmakers betting on the last. The tractor drivers were busy from before the first race and even had to help fence stewards move their vehicles when the racing was over.