THERE was some cracking fare at the second stage of the two-day Meath Foxhounds and Tara Harriers meeting at Fairyhouse on Sunday and Wexford-trained horses totally dominated the fixture with all five winners trained in the south-eastern county.
Colin Bowe and Barry O’Neill, having drawn a blank the previous afternoon, combined to record a double with the pair initially combining courtesy of Harry Des Ongrais in the truly run four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
In a race where all six participants were newcomers, Watch House Cross was the one that was mainly responsible for the generous pace and he was joined by the French-bred Harry Des Ongrais from the fifth last of the 13 obstacles.
There was then very little to separate the pair until the eventual winner was the faster in the air over two out and the Milestone Bloodstock-owned grey thenmade the best of his way home from there.
The winning son of Crillon was clearly in command on the long run to the final fence and he ultimately returned with 10 lengths to spare over Watch House Cross, the pick of the paddock beforehand, while another embryonic chasing type, Global Assembly, similarly provided ample indication of ability by returning a similar margin adrift in third spot.
Lovely prospect
“He’s a nice horse that still needs time and he will be a lovely prospect for next season,” said Bowe of Harry Des Ongrais, a €60,000 graduate of last year’s Goffs Land Rover Sale that hails from the same family as Grade 2 chase winner Manhattan Castle.
Doran’s Bridge, who was returning from a six-month absence, completed the Bowe/O’Neill brace by landing the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The bay, having finished third to Velvet Elvis in a Nenagh four-year-old maiden in January of last year, was always well-positioned and the well-built son of Imperial Monarch moved through to pick up the running approaching the last fence.
Blazing Yeats though was in full flight by now and he actually landed in front over this final fence, but only to come to grief.
Doran’s Bridge then took charge to beat long-time leader Strike Of Tulla, who in turn benefited from the exit of Ibbenburen at the last while lying third at the time, by six lengths.
“He had some nice four-year-old form and he’s a very straightforward type that will be competitive on the track for sure,” remarked Bowe of the Milestone Bloodstock-owned winner, a runner-up on his initial start this season at Necarne back in September.
JAMIE CODD emulated the achievements of Barry O’Neill by likewise partnering two winners and the former champion, who for the most part chartered a course on the outer on Sunday with his mounts, joined forces with longstanding ally Denis Murphy to win the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden with Great Ocean.
Having finished third on his two previous starts in the autumn at Ballingarry and Umma House, the French-bred picked up the running two out to dispense with towering newcomer Monbeg Stream by six lengths in the style of a horse that should effortlessly make his presence felt on a sound underfoot surface. Great Ocean, representing Edelle Logan, is now likely to be offered for sale.
Codd instigated his double aboard his cousin Jonathan Fogarty’s former track performer Present Storm in the five-year-old mares’ maiden.
The bay, who exited four out on her points debut at Cork the previous Saturday, took advantage when leader and eventual runner-up Beaute Noire lost valuable momentum by slowing into the final fence and the daughter of Presenting duly made her way to the fore early on the flat to dismiss Noel McParlan’s mount by one and a half lengths.
Present Storm, owned by her handler’s mother Mary Frances Fogarty, is now, interestingly, eligible for a handicap mark over hurdles.
TRACK experience always comes in handy in points and 19-year-old Liam Gilligan, who rode 16 winners as a conditional jockey, was seen to tremendous effect in the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden when executing a race-winning manoeuvre by sending the Cormac Doyle-trained newcomer Fancy Stuff through to lead on the inner after two out.
Fancy Stuff then held the whip-hand over long-time leader Springtime Promise on the run to the final fence and she then maintained a narrow advantage to the line to contain the pacesetter by a length in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.
Motown Maggie also hinted that her turn is imminent by securing the minor honours, a further one and a half lengths adrift.
Fancy Stuff, who is out of an own-sister to Nick Dundee, was acquired privately by connections in Co. Waterford last summer and the Monbeg Farm Racing Partnership-owned bay is likely to be seen in new silks when running again.
Gilligan was sampling a second points victory as he posted an initial success ‘between the flags’ aboard Patrick Doyle’s mare Mangan Rose at Lisronagh in early November.
Craughwell native Gilligan presently rides out for both Cormac and Sean Doyle while the teenager also travels to Mick Goff’s Monageer base.
Horse To Follow
Global Assembly (Tom Keating)
This son of Kayf Tara gave a solid account on his debut in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden by finishing third. While beaten 20 lengths, he ran considerably better than this would indicate as he was on the heels of the pair that finished in front of him until after two out. He’s likely to improve for the run and should prove well up to track standard.
Bobby on the ball!
IT’S safe to say that Colin Bowe and wife Fiona have a form guru at home in Kiltealy in the form of eight-year-old son Bobby.
The Covid restrictions meant that Bobby couldn’t attend on Sunday, but the youngster was on the phone to his dad shortly after the victory of Doran’s Bridge in the last to explain that the gelding’s form ties in with that of numerous recent track winners.