Eoghain Ward
THE effects of Storm Desmond were felt by all present at Tattersalls Farm on Sunday last as significant rainfall in the days preceding the fixture ensured that the meeting hinged on an 8am inspection on the race morning, which ultimately proceeded in testing underfoot conditions.
Those who braved the elements were treated to a quality day’s racing which commenced in dramatic style with the Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham Sale four-year-old maiden.
Four contenders were separated by less than two lengths at the final fence and looking set to fight out a titanic battle to the line, only for drama to ensure with Kindly Prince, No Secrets Here and joint-favourite Bigpipenotobacee all coming to grief.
This paved the way for the Sean Cleary-owned Back Door Johnny (5/1), who was disputing the third position at the time, to return eight lengths clear of the other joint-favourite Thomas Do.
The twice-previously raced son of Westerner appeared to be a somewhat fortunate winner, however winning rider Roger Quinlan still felt his Paul Nolan-trained mount was a contender prior to the final fence drama, commenting afterwards: “I didn’t go quick enough early on so they quickened by me, but I was coming back at them all the time and he is a lovely horse.”
Paul Cashman is a trainer that often finishes a season with a very high strike rate, and he appears to have yet another quality performer on his hands in the shape of Powerful Symbol (5/2 favourite) who ground his rivals into submission to post a most impressive all the way success in the Tattersalls Ireland Ascot Sale five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
An encouraging third at Knockanard in February when novice ridden, a notable change in tactics were employed on this occasion with Damian Murphy now aboard, and their intentions were clear from an early stage, setting a strong gallop throughout, and returning 20 lengths clear of the twice previously-placed Butney Island.
The high regard the winning handler holds the winning Niamh Woods-owned gelding, who was due to head to yesterday evening Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale, was clear in the aftermath of the success.
“He was very impressive there and is the nicest Robin Des Champs I have had to date. He was unlucky at Knockanard as things did not go his way but that performance was something we always knew he was capable of.”
The ever-popular Tattersalls Ireland George Mernagh Memorial Open Lightweight over the Cross-Country course culminated in a tremendous tussle to the line between last year’s race winner Current Exchange (1/1 favourite) and the former Cheltenham Festival Cross-Country victor Sizing Australia, with the verdict falling to the former, an easy to back favourite, by a length and a half under Tim Donworth.
Favourite backers had some moments of concern however when the 10-year-old appeared to lose his way at the half-way point, surrounding the lead and causing confusion with a number of the chasing runners following him wide off the course.
Simon McGonagle, representing the winning handler Gordon Elliott, indicated that the Beneficial gelding would be aimed at similar contests in the near future.
Downpatrick-based trainer Daniel Fitzsimmons looks to have unearthed a smart race mare in the form of Listen To The Man (5/1,) who produced a monster performance to get up from a most unlikely position entering the back straight to record a battling length success on debut in the Tattersalls Ireland NH Sale five-year-old mares’ maiden.
The Court Cave mare made a bad mistake at the fifth last while sitting in last, and it appeared as though she would tail off at that point, however once given plenty of time to take back up the bit at the following fence under a highly commendable Noel McParlan ride, the bay mare began stylishly picking-off rivals in what turned out to be a most noteworthy success in testing conditions.
“She didn’t settle for the first circuit and really needs better ground, but once she filled-up her lungs after that mistake Noel said she just kept galloping and will go to the Cheltenham Sales now,” reported the winning handler who bought the Listen To The Man Syndicate-owned mare straight from her breeder Paddy Kelly.
Narrowly beaten in the corresponding race 12 months previously, Waltz Legend (5/1) was defiant in ensuring that she was successful this time around, as she gamely battled all the way to the line to defeat the long-time leader Jodies Miss by three lengths, with the short-priced favourite Curraghmore Girl back in third in the Pillo Hotel mares’ winners’ of two.
Always close to the strong pace under Mark O’Hare, the nine-year-old who is now a three-time winner, held the fitness edge over her returning rival Jodies Miss which was likely decisive in the conditions.
Placed three times under rules last season, the Flying Legend mare who continues to run in the colours of her Laytown based breeder Niall Delany, looks now set to return inside the rails.
With a dramatic contest opening proceedings, the North East Electrical older maiden ensured that the six-race card also concluded in similar fashion with six of the 15 runners coming to grief over the course of the three-mile contest and only four runners completed as ground conditions finally took their toll having held up well throughout much of the afternoon.
Out front and avoiding much of the drama in the hands of 20-year-old Liam Kelleher, the favourite Ethan Edwards (5/2) had twice finished placed this season and was unlucky to come down whilst well clear at Kirkistown last month, so his 14-length success over Mia’s Milan could certainly be considered as due compensation for the Thomas McGeough-owned and trained six-year-old.
“He ran well in a Fairyhouse Bumper but we couldn’t get him right after that so we were very surprised when he ran so well at Dowth Hall.” The Trim-based handler reported the Exit To Knowhere gelding would likely now return to the track.
Paying respects
There was a minute silence held at Tattersalls as a mark of respect for both Olive McCann and Cecil Ross, both will be sorely missed within the equine and point-to-point world.
Hampers for
the winners
HORSE First, an equine supplements company based in Newry, Co Down provided a gift hamper for the winning connections in each race at the Louth Hunt point-to-point. It was nice to see the extra effort made by the hunt and I am sure the hampers were gratefully received by all.