SHANE Fitzgerald teamed up with Co Wexford handler Mick Goff to take two of the three divisions on a bumper day of action in the four-year-old maiden age group.

Hes A Hardy Bloke (3/1 - 5/1) took division two by a comprehensive four lengths over the Colin Bowe-trained Erne River. Racing in the colours of Goff’s wife Catriona, the son of Aizavoski had shown little on his previous two starts, but he more than atoned for those efforts on this occasion and is now for sale.

Sir Sholokhov (3/1) proved to be game when it was needed most in division three as he outbattled Here We Have It by a neck, for what was a second success of the afternoon in the Catriona Goff colours. “He’s a fair horse and will be a top-class horse. He just finds things easy,” said Goff of his four-year-old, who is now sales bound.

Wexford

The first division also went the way of a Wexford handler as Colin Bowe maintained his excellent season with four-year olds when it was Across The Channel (5/2 - 9/4 favourite) who came out on top in the colours of the Milestone Racing Partnership.

Ridden by Barry O’Neill, the French-bred son of Dunkerque held on by just a neck to deny the long-time leader Junior Rattler. “Barry said the two of them really quickened going to the last. He’s a nice horse and he will probably go to the sales,” said the Wexford handler following his success.

The Wilson Dennison colours are certainly no stranger to the winner’s enclosure where they featured following the success of the Colin McKeever-trained Muckamore (7/4 favourite) in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden under Stephen Connor. This son of Sholokhov secured a comfortable eight-length success over Time Leader in second spot.

“He has the potential to be a good horse. And he will be going to the sales I’m sure now,” said McKeever of the gelding who was bought for €16,500 in Tattersalls back in 2014.

Owned and bred by his father James, and ridden to victory by Shane O’Rourke, Vincent Devereux’s Mr Mantilla (6/1) built on his Knockmullen House success back in November, to take the winner-of-one contest by a length and a half over recent Turtulla winner Templebredin.

“We went to Cheltenham, but we couldn’t sell him. If we can’t sell him, we’ll keep him,” said a delighted Devereux following his family success. Interestingly, Devereux’ father had the sire (Publisher) as well as the dam of this five-year-old.

Co Cork handler Jason O’Reilly made the trip worthwhile with Sofias Castle (6/1) who took the mares’ maiden by an impressive eight lengths. This mare had been pulled up on her last start in Curraghmore back in April, but stepped up on this her seasonal reappearance.

Scorpion Lady kept on well into second spot, however she never threatened Harley Dunne who was aboard O’Reilly’s charge. “I won’t sell her; I might go for a winners with her next. The owner, John White, has been very good to me, I trained a few winners for him as well before. She went weak last season, and we came here today for the better ground,” said O’Reilly of the daughter of Arctic Cosmos.

The ladies’ open attracted a quality field of eight runners, but none could head Mighty Stowaway (5/2 - 9/4) who made every post a winning one under Áine O’Connor to defeat Reigning Supreme by a length and a half.

Owned by the Mee family, whose colours are no stranger to success, John ‘Shark’ Hanlon’s main aim on this occasion was to get this gelding qualified for the Foxhunter at Cheltenham next March, which he achieved. “We might go for another one with him, or go to Down Royal at Christmas. He’s a proper horse,” said Hanlon of the exciting son of Stowaway following his success.

Star mare Longhouse Music disappointed on this occasion for the Curling team as she could only manage fourth.

Thrilling

The finale of the afternoon was the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden for novice riders. Itscatrionaschoice (5/2 favourite) held on by a head over Kildrum in a thrilling finish under James O’Reilly for handler James Dullea.

The son of Elusive Pimpernel, who is owned by Bandon native Catriona O’Donovan, had not been seen since May 2018 where he finished a respectable fifth of 18 in a Killarney maiden hurdle.

“I’m delighted for James. He’s with me a while now, and it’s great he got there today. I’m also delighted for the owner, Catriona O’Donovan.

“We always thought he was a nice horse, hopefully he’ll improve plenty from it and will go back to the track at Christmas,” said a delighted Dullea.

Horse to follow

Dans Chosen (G Power): The son of Well Chosen made a promising debut to finish third and he should improve vastly for that effort.

News

GENEROUSLY sponsored by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, the ladies’ open proved to be a particular highlight and Kells Lodge Stud presented a fabulous piece of Newbridge glassware to Áine O’Connor following her victory, along with a bouquet of flowers.

There was also wine, mugs, and roasted flax seed from Belmount up for grabs, as part of a packed hamper.

A MINUTE’S silence was held in honour of the late Clonmel native Rosemary Rooney, who was the initiator of the ladies’ race at the fixture. Rosemary was credited with doing tremendous work for the Kilmoganny Hunt down through the years, before her passing in mid-October.

HONORARY Secretary Aileen Persse was quick to thank her fellow committee members for their continued effort and support in order to run the fixture. Persse was also grateful to the Walsh family, on whose land the race meeting took place, for their generosity in providing the land.

RACE graduate Rebecca Traynor had her first ride between the flags aboard Touchy in the ladies’ open contest where she finished a creditable third.