GERRY SPAIN’S outstanding campaigner Some Are Lucky (5/1 - 6/1) doubled his seasonal tally in the featured novice riders open lightweight at last Sunday’s Golden Vale Hunt meeting held at Turtulla.
Content to track the front-running Brooksway Fair under his owner-rider Spain in the early stages, the Gold Well gelding moved through to lead on sweeping around the final bend with short-priced favourite Brain Power in his slipstream.
However, with the pair upsides, recent Tattersalls winner Brain Power exited at the second last, leaving Sam Curling’s recent Rathcannon scorer to coast home 24 lengths clear of Is A Real Champ and record his 12th victory between the flags.
“He’s some horse to have around the place. Gerry gets such a great tune out of him. The horse seems to be in mighty form. We’ll see how he comes out of this, but we might look at a banks race next for him,” said winning handler Curling.
The opening four-year-old mares’ maiden saw absent Tubber, Co Galway handler Paurick O’Connor record his first success of the season courtesy of Hey Day Baby (5/1 - 6/1).
Making all under a fine Eoin Mahon ride, the daughter of Soldier Of Fortune had many of her rivals trailing in her wake early on the final circuit before finding plenty on the run-in to outpoint Presenting Doyen by a length and three quarters.
The bay is owned by Birdhill, Co Limerick native John Duggan who has enjoyed considerable success in recent times with the likes of the prolific Longhouse Music and he commented: “This is a mare that the O’Connors sourced for me.
Smashing ride
“She has a lovely pedigree that includes the likes of Verdana Blue. Eoin gave her a smashing ride and she travelled everywhere for him. We will probably offer her for sale now.”
The following four-year-old geldings’ maiden appeared a most competitive heat and here victory went the way of Ellen Doyle’s debutant The Jukebox Man (5/1 - 8/1) who obliged in the silks of Ballacolla, Co. Laois owner John Phelan.
Given the office on touching down after three out by Brian Dunleavy, the towering son of Ask lengthened right away in fine style late on to account for fellow first-timer Cleatus Poolaw by six-lengths.
“This is a lovely big scopey sort that John bought as a foal in late 2018. He’s always shown us a lot at home so we felt he’d take a lot of beating today. He’ll improve plenty from that and has the makings of a nice horse,” outlined the successful handler’s brother James.
Busty shows his stamina reserves
MAIKE Magnussen’s Busty Boy (8/1 - 10/1) made a smooth transition to points action as he sprang a surprise in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Making good progress from rear under Mikey Sweeney, Busty Boy, a former track-recruit by Ivawood, forged ahead of favourite Farren Glory at the top of the home straight before showing strong reserves of stamina to fend off the persistent challenge of that rival by two lengths.
“I’m thrilled with that. He’s an out and out chaser in the making and is only coming to himself now. Mikey was really pleased with him. He’ll be sold now hopefully,” reflected Templemore, Co Tipperary-located Magnussen.
On a trying afternoon for punters, the sole favourite to oblige on the six-race card was the Gearoid O’Loughlin-trained Annie K (6/4 - 2/1 favourite) who got her career off to a bright start in the five-year-old and upwards maiden.
Asserted
Dominating up front throughout in the hands of Derek O’Connor, the daughter of Valirann readily asserted on the run to the penultimate obstacle, ultimately returning nine lengths clear of Fairland. “This is a lovely mare that I picked up from Kieran Lennon as a store a couple of years ago. Derek said he got a lovely feel from her today. She’ll be a nice one for the track,” stated O’Loughlin, who later indicated that his five-year-old full-sister to Willie Mullins’ talented bumper-performer Lecky Watson will likely be sold now.
Suttons secures first success
SEVEN faced the starter in the concluding five-year-old and upwards maiden which was confined to handlers who had saddled 10 or less winners at the time of entry and it saw Seamus Murnane’s home-bred Suttons Hill (3/1 - 4/1) get off the mark on his fifth career start.
Mikey O’Connor’s mount, a fine third at Largy behind Step Above last April, duly strode clear at the business end to dismiss Whatwoulditb to win by in excess of 15 lengths.
The Lough Gur, Co Limerick handler Murnane said of his Arcadio-gelding: “He’s the only one I have in at the minute and does everything by himself, so even though he’s plenty of exercise done, we didn’t know what to really expect today.
“With all that, I’m a bit surprised really.
“We’ll aim for a winners’ race with him next.”
Presenting Doyen (S.T. Doyle) This daughter of Doyen posted a career best effort on her third-start when chasing home Hey Day Baby in the opening younger mares’ maiden.
Going down by less than two lengths on this occasion, a similar maiden looks well within her capabilities going forward before she graduates to