LISCARROLL is without doubt one of the most popular meetings in the entire country and all roads led to the north Cork village on Sunday for the annual fixture at Knockardbane, where racing was first staged in 1954.
TV presenter Mary Kennedy on site with the Nationwide camera crew, there was some stellar fare on offer and the Colin Bowe-trained newcomer Papa Tango Charly (4/1) indicated that a bright future awaits by showing a powerful turn of foot in the four-year-old maiden.
In what seemed a competitive renewal, Fort Summer and Big Bresil took the 10 runners along at a decent pace with Papa Tango Charly always in their slipstream in the hands of Barry O’Neill.
The winner, having moved through to join issue briefly with Fort Summer on the incline from the fourth last of the 13 obstacles, eased to the front on the approach to two out and put the issue beyond doubt after this penultimate obstacle, running out a four-length winner over Big Bresil.
“He’s a nice slick type that was always pleasing us at home,” said Bowe of the son of No Risk At All, a close relation to Eagle Pines and Express Way, owned by Una Connors, having been purchased by her veterinarian husband Walter in France as a foal.
Bowe and Walter Connors also teamed up to capture the four-year-old maiden at Ballinaboola last year with Gordon Elliot’s recent Cheltenham Grade 1 Champion Bumper winner Envoi Allen.
JUMPED WELL
The Mikey Kennedy-trained New Earth (4/1) jumped very well from the front to supplement his maiden success at Boulta’s January fixture in the winners of one. New Earth, who fell at the last when chasing Monty’s Mission on his most recent outing in the Bandon winners’ race on March 3rd, was sent to the head of affairs by the in-form Michael O’Sullivan after the third fence.
The six-year-old, who looked a picture beforehand, got into a lovely rhythm and he appeared to be travelling marginally better than the pursuing Aughnacurra King when Mikey O’Connor’s mount exited two-out.
From here, New Earth was left with a relatively straightforward task to account for the mare Alloverafiver by 25 lengths. Handler Kennedy suggested that the son of Getaway, owned and bred by long-standing points supporter Karen O’Driscoll, will now be aimed at a winners of two.
Sam Curling and Derek O’Connor, combined to collect the five-year-old mares’ maiden with the clear form choice Forthegreatergood (4/5 favourite).
Runner-up on her sole two previous outings at Kilfeacle and Nenagh, Forthegreatergood was always positioned close to the pace and she made smooth progress to join issue with Rockfield Fame before two out.
It was plain sailing after this penultimate obstacle as the winning daughter of Yeats bounded clear to contain recent Lismore runner-up Finisk Mist by six lengths.
Owner and trainer Curling indicated that the 2017 Fairyhouse August Sale graduate, whom he shares with his father-in-law Jim Doyle, is now likely to be offered for sale.
The Eoghan O’Grady-trained Doyen Bay (10/1) returned to a rapturous reception on winning the closing six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden, a greeting that was wholly deserved considering rider Bernard O’Neill was bridging an 11-year gap to his previous success in the saddle.
Former track performer Doyen Bay, who was fitted with cheekpieces, made most of the running and he seemed to have a battle on when the patiently-ridden Witness Protection moved through to challenge on the run to two out.
However it was here that Witness Protection made a race-ending error allowing the six-year-old, owned by Eamonn Tarant from Banteer, to draw clear on the run to the final fence to beat Kanturk Bard by seven lengths.
LARGE FIELD
Kanturk Bard’s handler Michael Winters likes nothing more than to have a winner at this meeting and he didn’t leave empty-handed as his representative Winter Getaway (6/1) obliged in the six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden, the race that attracted the biggest field of the day with 17 starters.
The seasonal debutant powered to the front on the inner with Chris O’Donovan after two-out and, with the closest pursuer Lemon Hill exiting at the last, the winning daughter of Getaway returned with four lengths to spare over favourite West Vintage in the colours of owner/breeder Edmond Cogan.
Donnchadh Doyle’s Keep Wondering (6/1) made amends for slipping up after three out on his most recent outing at Ballycahane by landing the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. With fractional leader Ashtown Lad blundering two-out, last season’s Oldcastle runner-up Keep Wondering moved to the front after this penultimate obstacle and he then asserted with Rob James to dismiss odds-on shot Barrowlands by eight lengths.
Doyle indicated that Keep Wondering, sporting the familiar Monbeg Syndicate silks, is now likely to be consigned at one of the forthcoming sales.
HORSES TO FOLLOW
LEMON HILL (R. Beresford): She was making her return to action in the six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden, having fallen on her solitary start at Quakerstown last season. She took up the running travelling well before the third last, only to be headed after two out. She was still lying a more than respectable second when cruelly unseating at the last. A maiden success should prove a mere formality over the coming weeks.
NEWS
Nationwide attraction
LISCARROLL was quite simply was a hive of activity on Sunday. It was widely reported beforehand that Mary Kennedy, who disclosed that she was paying an initial visit to the venue, would be on hand with the Nationwide cameras. Kennedy and the Nationwide crew were most meritoriously still present after the last race. The likelihood is that their piece will be screened on RTÉ 1 early next month.
Year on year the Liscarroll meeting receives widespread support from the local community with the youngsters being particularly well catered for on this occasion.
Honorary secretary Siobhan Madden explained: “The children’s zone was a big hit this year and we had a new initiative in the form of the children’s baking competition. We had over 100 exhibits from youngsters that attend the Liscarroll and Dromcolligher primary schools.”
Those youngsters need to be accompanied by a parent and the childrens’ baking competition definitely helped to swell this year’s attendance.
Whether it was around the large parade ring or in the bookmaker’s ring, which saw some 18 layers present this year, there was scarcely leg room to be had.