Michael Duggan
A DOUBLE for Wexford jockey J.J. Slevin was the highlight of last Sunday’s well-attended Laois Hunt fixture at Stradbally.
Slevin teamed up with his trainer father Shay to land the second division of the opening Tattersalls Ireland five-year-old geldings’ maiden courtesy of 10/1 outsider Ballinvegga.
Owned by Michelle Ryan from Athlone, this son of Royal Anthem landed in front at the final fence and stayed on stoutly to beat Ian Ferguson’s Inchcolm by two lengths.
“Good ground is the key to this horse and he likes to come from off a strong gallop as well,” divulged Slevin “He is a nice sort and we’ll probably keep on the go over the summer. He has plenty of pace and his most likely target will be a bumper.”
Slevin completed his riding double when guiding Kilna Shane (4/1) to a narrow victory in the Egans Off-Licence adjacent hunts maiden.
Trained at nearby Ballacolla by Mark Quigley for Ballinakill owner-breeder Joe Delaney, Kilna Shane had to pull out all the stops in the closing stages to deny Aidan Fitzgerald’s newcomer Max Forte by a neck.
Quigley said: “He was a bit unlucky when second here last month and did it well today. He likes that nice ground and jumped super. He will be on the boat tonight for the sales at Doncaster during the week and will make a smashing three-mile chaser.”
DUNGARVAN
Twelve faced the starter in the Meadow Meats winners of two with victory going to 10/1 shot October Revolution.
Trained in Dungarvan, Co Waterford by David McGrath for his wife Mary and ridden by their son Derek, this son of Turtle Island improved to lead at the last and stuck to his guns in admirable fashion to beat runner-up Carrig Dubh by five lengths.
“This horse pulled up last Sunday at Ballindenisk, but it poured rain there all day and he just hated the ground,” stated the winning trainer. “In fairness that run probably brought him on and left him spot-on for today. If we can find another suitable race he might run again before the end of the season but he could be sold as well.”
Winning two races in 24 hours is a difficult task, but northern raider Mr Bolt (4/5 favourite), trained in Newry, Co Down by Sean McParlan for Crossgar owner Niall Fitzgerald, made light of that chore when landing the Revive Beauty & Laser Clinic open lightweight for lady riders.
Successful at Necarne the previous afternoon, the 10-year-old, who was given a good ride by Lisa O’Neill, had just mastered the front-running Klassy when that rival fell at the final fence, leaving Mr Bolt clear to beat runner-up Royal Benifet by 16 lengths.
The winner is now level with Carrigeen Acebo on the seven-winner mark in the race for leading horse of the season.
Noel McParlan, son of the winning trainer, observed: “This horse barely had a race yesterday and he we said we’d let him take his chance again today as he was rolling around when we let him out in the field. Lisa’s given him a brilliant ride and he is holding his form well. Not sure if he’ll run again in points, a hunters’ chase in three weeks time is his main objective.”
RED-LETTER DAY
Sunday proved a red-letter day for Wexford trainer Susan O’Gorman who saddled her first winner when 5/2 favourite Duplicate Daughter scored under her trainer’s boyfriend Pa O’Sullivan in the Boormalt Ireland seven-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.
A model of consistency, this Definite Article eight-year-old finally got her turn when running on courageously close home to beat James Cousin’s Hi Lucy Lou by a neck.
O’Gorman, who trains the winner at their Adamstown yard for her father Donal, declared: “It’s brilliant to train my first winner. This mare was covered by Shirocco recently and maybe that’s what did it for her. She is due to be scanned on Tuesday and all going well, she might go for a mares’ winners’ race at Kinsale.”
SMART SORT
Fabian Burke seems to have a smart sort on his hands in Noble Leader (6/4-4/5 favourite) who justified strong support when taking the first division of the opening five-year-old geldings’ maiden under Johnny King. Left clear when Super Scorpion fell two out, Noble Leader pulled a distance clear of runner-up Namako.
Burke disclosed: “I train this horse for Edelle Logan at her Tower View Stables on the Curragh. He is a lovely sort and did it well today. We fancied him when he fell first time out at Tattersalls, but he was just a bit novicey there and paid the price. This horse has a big future.”
The concluding Glanbia, Ballacolla seven-year-old geldings’ maiden was divided with the first division going to the Denis Hogan-trained 4/1 shot Definite Treasure.
Given a fine ride by Galway-born jockey Paul Cawley, the son of Definite Article was always prominent and found plenty from two out to fend off the challenge of Mark Fahey’s Cant Pay Wont Pay by two and half lengths.
Hogan, who looks after the Tim Conroy-owned winner at his Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary stables, reported: “That’s my first winner for the owner and I’m very pleased. Paul gave him a great ride and he’s a very good rider who doesn’t get the opportunities he deserves in my opinion. This horse will probably head to the upcoming Brightwells Sale at Cheltenham.”
The concluding second division was won in good style by the Liam O’Farrell-owned and trained Tom’s Last Euro (3/1). A first ever success in the saddle for 19-year-old Trim, Co Meath rider Liam Kelleher, Tom’s Last Euro had his task eased when the challenging Kings Red fell three out and the son of Simply Great eased clear to beat Gerry Mangan’s mount, The Grey Celt, by 16 lengths.
O’Farrell, who is also based at Trim, confessed: “It’s thrill of a lifetime getting this fellow to win as he’s an 11-year-old and is very much a fun horse. Liam gave him a brilliant ride and that’s just his second ever ride as he was third on him at Durrow back in March. We’ll go for a winners’ race now.”
Purple patch
ATHOLNE owner Michelle Ryan is going through a purple patch at the moment and she was beaming in the winner’s enclosure following the success of her Shay Slevin-trained Ballinvegga in the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
“That‘s my second winner in seven days as Ash Rowe won for us at Ballindenisk last Sunday,” said Ms Ryan, who runs a successful toy distribution agency.
“I’ve known Shay Slevin and his wife, Liz, for a long time and we’ve enjoyed a fair bit of success together. I bought this horse as a three-year-old at Tattersalls and he won well today. Ground conditions really suited him and J.J. gave him a super ride. I’m on a bit of a roll at present so let’s hope it continues!”
McGrath success
JOCKEY Derek McGrath was seen to good effect when guiding October Revolution, trained by his father David, to victory in the winners’ race.
“It great to get among the winners and our horse did it well,” said the 25-year-old. “I’ve been riding out for Henry de Bromhead for a few years now and it’s a great place to get experience. I go in two days a week to Andy and Willie Slattery as well and they have given me a few rides too this season. We have just five horses riding out at home and we’d like to get a few more if we could, while we have a few broodmares to keep us busy. I’d love to get more rides, but it’s very competitive and hard to get established.”
Horses to Follow
NOBEL LEADER (F. P. Burke): This fellow was the only one punters wanted in the first division of the opener and he rewarded them with an authorativve success. A faller first time out, his jumping was much slicker this time round and he appears set for a bright future.