Neil O’Donnell

ON Sunday, all roads led to Liscarroll where the guest of honour was President Michael D Higgins. An excellent crowd turned out to welcome President Higgins and there was some terrific fare on offer at the popular Knockardbane circuit, where racing was first staged in 1954.

Abbazagga hinted that he’s in line for a particularly productive campaign as he destroyed the opposition, ridden by his handler Declan Queally in the Sygma Automation winners of one.

The hooded Abbazagga (4/1), who made a pleasing return to action by finishing second to Ajijic at Belharbour in early-February, made all the running and he gave a faultless display of fencing at the head of affairs. The son of Bach held a commanding 10-length advantage from half-way and he steadily increased his lead from the third last of the 13 obstacles.

He was gone beyond recall from before two out and he beat Baily Fox by a widening 21 lengths. Three Loud Knocks secured the minor honours, a further two lengths adrift with the trio being the only finishers from the seven runners that set out.

PATIENT

“This is a quick horse and I must thank his owner Dermot Kiely from Lemybrien for being so patient with him,” commented Queally of Abbazagga, bred by former point-to-point champion rider Nicky Dee. “He even got a drop in his foot after finishing second at Belharbour last month and the plan hopefully is that he will now go for the hunter chase at Tramore next month.”

Queally also returned to the coveted number one slot aboard the Debbie Hartnett-trained Trapper in the closing Exors of the late Dr R J Sheehy six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

Trapper (5/1), who failed to complete the course on his three previous outings, similarly benefited from frontrunning tactics and he mastered runner-up Could Be Better on the climb from two out to score by 12 lengths in the silks of UK-based owner Edmond Murphy.

Pat Doyle is experiencing a fine run at present and the Suirview Stables operator struck with the Derek O’Connor-ridden Egalin Mans in the Goffs UK Aintree Sale four-year-old maiden.

Egalin Mans (7/4), representing Dungarvan-based vet Walter Connors, disputed the running from half-way until edging ahead at the fourth last. A potent threat emerged from three out in the form of Rock On Rocco and the latter touched down in front over the second last.

Egalin Mans though was back in front in a matter of strides and he asserted on the climb from this penultimate obstacle. Rock On Rocco had no more to give in second spot, approximately 10 lengths adrift, when pulled up before the final fence.

Egalin Mans, a half-brother to Willie Mullins’ five-time winner Coquin Mans, finished alone and it’s probable that the French-bred son of Network will be seen in new colours when running again.

Ciaran Fennessy partnered an initial winner since returning to action earlier this year from the pelvical injury that he sustained in a fall at Rathcannon in October 2016 by landing the FarmFirst Insurance five-year-old geldings’ maiden aboard Fermoy-based owner/trainer/breeder Dinny Fitzgerald’s newcomer Lisnagar Oscar.

The patiently-ridden Lisnagar Oscar (4/1- 9/4) , whose dam is an own-sister to this season’s Newbury Hennessy Gold Cup runner-up Whisper, eased through to join issue with Iconic Hero on the run to two out.

Lisnagar Hero touched down in front here and he was always in command thereafter, eight lengths ultimately separating him from runner-up Shanacoole Prince in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.

Long-standing points supporter Fitzgerald, who was virtually mobbed by well-wishers post-race, was most recently on the mark when Lisnagar Star won the Knockanard adjacent hunts maiden in 2014.

Wetbehindtheears returned from a three and a half month break to land the Topline Burtons, Kanturk five-year-old mares’ maiden under a confident Ray Barron.

The Jack Bennett-trained Wetbehindtheears (4/1), absent since finishing a fortunate second at Boulta in mid-December, made smooth progress from mid-division to go second on the approach to two out.

PLAIN SAILING

It was all plain sailing once the winning daughter of Flemensfirth took up the after this second last fence as she forged clear before the last to account for Another Theatre by 12 lengths. Bruff-based Bennett, who recalled winning a maiden at this meeting in 2015 with Floral Fantasy, will now aim his father Syd’s winner at a winners’ race.

The Tom Keating-owned/trained Rollercoster returned to the coveted number one slot with Liam Quinlan in the Collins Bros Garage, Liscarroll six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden, much to the dismay of the 18 bookmakers present.

Rollercoster (5/2), a half-sister to Henry Oliver’s four-time British track-winning mare Sparkling River, edged on before three out. With her closest pursuer Vivalino coming under pressure before the second last, Rollercoster ultimately came home by a distance.

By doing so, Rollercoster was fulfilling the promise of her second-placed return effort at Belharbour in early February.

Liscarroll pointing the way forward

What an enjoyable afternoon at Liscarroll on Sunday! The news only broke the previous weekend that President Michael D Higgins would be in attendance at Liscarroll and there was an excellent crowd present to welcome the President, whose late mother Alice Canty originally hailed from the village.

Last year, the Liscarroll committee commemorated the centenary of the birth of the late Vincent O’Brien, who of course came from nearby Churchtown.

The meeting’s honorary secretary Siobhan Madden takes up the story: “After celebrating Vincent O’Brien’s centenary last year, when we had a crowd of 3,000 people, there was a huge reaction and the committee then asked what could we do for this year’s meeting. Donal O’Cainte, our former honorary secretary, was instrumental in the President coming here today.”

The President arrived at 1.30pm, a half-hour before proceedings commenced and Philip Egan sung a rendition of the ‘Amhran na bhFiann’ prior to the runners being mounted for the first race. Derek O’Connor introduced President Higgins to the riders before the second race and he also met with members of the stewards. The President spent a considerable length of time in the marquee situated to the side of the parade-ring where he greeted racegoers and he departed Knockardbane before the fifth race.

By all accounts, this was the first time that an officiating Irish President had attended a point-to-point meeting and it was a masterstroke by the Liscarroll committee to invite the Co Clare native to Knockardbane on Sunday.

Siobhan Madden has said that there was a crowd of 3,000 at Liscarroll last year for the meeting to honour Vincent O’Brien’s centenary and there were surely a similar number present again last Sunday. That’s to be commended as crowds (and betting turnover too) seem to be largely in decline at point-to-points.

So, what is Liscarroll doing differentLY?

It appears that the point-to-point is very much a social occasion not to be missed for the locals in this part of north Co Cork and that the whole community rallies behind the meeting. Yes, locals such as Pat Fleming and Siobhan Madden, who would both be well-known in north Cork equine circles, play a prominent role in the organising of this fixture.

Eamonn Collins, who takes the photographs for the committee every year, is another major driving force and it’s also true that there are a considerable number of young people on the committee.

But, it seems that Liscarroll’s main strength is the meritorious support that it receives from its own 700-strong community and the surrounding parishes. Chairman Nigel Burton stated in his address on the inside cover of the racecard that it is a time of homecoming each year for many and it’s a meeting that, quite simply, continues to go from strength to strength.

A massive well done to all concerned at Liscarroll. Here’s looking forward to next year!