Alan Mahon

NORTHERN region champion jockey Mark O’Hare signed off with a double on the final day of the northern season at the Iveagh point-to-point at Maralin on Saturday.

He registered his first victory in the penultimate race on the card, the Paul Monaghan Ltd six-year-old and upwards geldings race, when guiding Hazinowings (2/1-5/4 Favourite) to dead-heat with Spud’s Trouble (8/1-12/1), providing Cian Cullinan with his first career winner.

Some confusion surrounded the result as connections of Spud’s Trouble had left the parade ring before the result was announced. They believed they had finished second. As no message was made to declare there was a photo finish connections of Hazinowings and some spectators were surprised when hearing a dead-heat was called.

Winning handler of Hazinowings Dermot McLoughlin commented: “We will have a think about where to go next but back to the track is a possibility. Mark said he travelled well and stayed on nicely.”

Lorcan D’Arcy from Gorey, Co Wexford, trainer of Spud’s Trouble remarked: “I only have two horses in training and this one is for sale now.”

O’HARE DOUBLE

O’Hare completed his double in the Winner of Three on I’m An Izz Wizz (3/1-7/4) the well supported favourite for handler Liam Lennon.

Third when last seen in a Downpatrick hunter chase, the Desert King gelding was prominent throughout and stretched the field with a clear advantage at the last. He recorded an eight length win from Treo Eile. “He will run on the track next,” commented Lennon.

Bridge Of Spies improved from his third placed effort at Athlacca to run out an impressive winner of the Albert Bartlett five-year-old geldings maiden under Noel McParlan. Owned by Laura Graffin, wife of Turf Club official Paddy Graffin, the Indian River gelding was supported in the betting (9/4-7/4 joint favourite) as Rare Conor (6/4-7/4 joint favourite) drifted slightly.

Tracking the leaders from halfway, McParlan was never far off the pace and led again at the last to win going away to record a four length success from The Piper’s Cottage in the fastest time of the day.

Gowran-based trainer James Barcoe commented: “He’s a nice big horse that has come on with every run. He has learned from the experience and he won well. He will likely go to the sales now.”

Paul Cashman’s long journey up from Fermoy, Co Cork was well rewarded when his imposing chesnut mare Queens Present (7/2) won a competitive 16-runner mare’s maiden sponsored by Northern Excavators Ltd. With Damian Murphy in the saddle, the Presenting mare was produced to challenge at the last and got the better of Almost There by a length. The favourite Broken Sunrise (7/2-5/2) faded on the run to the last to eventually finish fifth.

“Damian said she was very green but she’s a tough and honest mare. She has a super pedigree as her dam is a half-sister to Kicking King. Hopefully she will travel across to the Cheltenham sales next week,” stated Cashman.

The opening Dennison Commercials four-year-old maiden was divided with the opening division going to the Michael Goff trained newcomer Marley Firth (4/1). Partnered by Shane Fitzgerald, they travelled with promise on the back straight and he was sent about his business at the second last. The Flemensfirth gelding galloped all the way to the line and always had the measure of the never nearer Granard three lengths behind in second.

Marley Firth is a half-brother to Divine Intavention a winner seven times over fences in England. He is owned and bred by Father Jim Nolan who was absent due to a communion in the parish.

Winning handler Goff remarked: “He’s a nice horse and he has a few half-brothers that have won in England. This is the first horse I have trained for Father Jim. He’s very tough, stays well and jumps like a buck. He will probably end up going to some of the sales and will do plenty of winning across the water.”

Aidan Fitzgerald produced his fifth winner of the season when Macs Gift (7/1) took the second division of the four-year-old maiden. The Scorpion gelding moved well into the race and challenged at the last under a good ride from Richie Deegan to win by a length and a half from the Monbeg syndicate newcomer Reckless Behavior, whilst Mountain Rock fell at the last when throwing down a challenge.

Macs Gift was purchased by current connections at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale in 2015 for €16,000. He is from the same family of Boss Doyle a winner 12 times for Mouse Morris. “He’s a lovely horse that we bought last summer. He’s straightforward and jumps well. He will now head to the sales,” commented the winning handler.

Valmy Baie recorded his third win of the season in the L.C Homes (Lilburn Contracts) open lightweight for David Christie. The seven-year-old has been a consistent sort this season finishing placed in each of his five outings.

Sent off the 8/11 favourite, his success never looked in doubt as Barry O’Neill sent his mount straight into the lead and won by a distance. “He was caught close him the last day but there was no chance of that today,” remarked Christie.

Cullinan’s first win

Eighteen-year-old Cian Cullinan had a day to remember as he rode his first point-to-point winner on Spud’s Trouble in the older gelding’s maiden at Maralin last Saturday dead-heating with Hazinowings partnered by northern region champion Mark O’Hare. Although there was confusion to the result of the race the winning connections came back into the parade ring after the last race for photographs to mark the occasion. Cian rode in his first race in Tinahely in February and this was only his fourth ride. Cian’s father, mother and two sisters were all present to witness his maiden success. He rides work for both Lorcan D’Arcy and John Hughes.

The winning trainer Lorcan D’Arcy commented: “Cian has ridden Spud’s Trouble on all but one of his outings. It’s great to see Cian getting his first winner. He’s a great lad and has a bright future.”