Neil O’Donnell

THE 2015/16 point-to-point season belatedly resumed with the Lisgoold meeting, run under the auspices of the United Hunt Club, at Templenacarriga on Saturday. Despite the recent weather conditions, this fine viewing track was produced in terrific shape by chairman Michael Moore and his hard-working team.

An excellent crowd travelled to Templenacarriga, where this fixture has been staged since 2014, and Derek O’Connor experienced a stellar afternoon by partnering three winners - all for different handlers incidentally. O’Connor got the ball rolling aboard the Kevin O’Sullivan-trained newcomer Monalee in a particularly competitive renewal of the Tattersalls Ireland five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The Milan-sired Monalee (4/1), out of an unraced half-sister to blacktype winning mares Be My Belle and Rose Of Inchiquin, always took the eye in running and he commenced his move from the third last of the 14 obstacles. He stormed through to challenge last month’s Tattersalls Farm runner-up Thomas Do on the outer on the run to the final fence. Whilst both horses then gave their all, it was the victorious bay that came out on top by a length from Richard Black’s Thomas Do.

Wells Gold would have finished closer to the two principals but for erring at the final fence and it was he that secured the minor honours, a further 10 lengths adrift. It’s O’Sullivan’s father-in-law Tom Fitzgerald from Roxborough outside Middleton that owns Monalee. Also a judge at this meeting, Fitzgerald said: “He’s a fine big horse that I bought as a foal at Fairyhouse and we will hopefully find a new home for him now.”

The Galwegian then teamed up with long-standing ally Robert Tyner to collect the O’Farrell Meats & Terry Ryan five and six-year-old mares’ maiden with the Beneficial-sired newcomer Dont Kick Nor Bite.

Aunt Kitty took the eight runners along until a wall of challengers were poised to tackle her on the run to two out. Dont Kick Nor Bite (6/4) touched down in front here and she pulled clear with Clondaw Nell on the uphill climb from this penultimate obstacle. A good finish seemed in store on the run to the final fence, but Dont Kick Nor Bite powered clear on the flat to assert by four lengths from the likeable Clondaw Nell, with Kayem showing promise on her debut by returning a further 15 lengths adrift in third spot. A bumper is now on the cards for Dont Kick Nor Bite, an imposing bay that sports the silks of the six-member All The Hens Syndicate from Kinsale. Tyner’s wife Mary is one of the winning owners.

O’Connor brought up his hat-trick in the East Cork Oil Company five-year-old and upwards confined hunt maiden aboard clear form choice Consharon Boy, who was completing an across the card double for handler Terence O’Brien.

In truth, the champion will scarcely ever ride an easier winner as the son of Zagreb was pulling double literally throughout. Consharon Boy (2/5), placed on all four previous starts last term, was allowed stride on setting out on the final circuit. He effortlessly powered clear of runner-up Laura’s Lark on the approach to the last to score by an unextended 10 lengths, much to the consternation of the 12 bookmakers present.

The bumper-bound Consharon Boy represents a three-strong partnership comprising of Tomas Ahern from Carrigtwohill, Co Clare native Tom Considine and Michael O’Sullivan from Cork city.

T.J. Nagle appears to have a very progressive sort on his hands in newcomer Gran Cavallo, who ran his rivals ragged under the talented Eoin O’Sullivan in the Amac six-year-old geldings’ maiden. The Milan-sired Gran Cavallo (10/1), whose own-brother Star Tackle finished fourth in the earlier five-year-old geldings’ maiden, disputed the running with Backtothewest until edging ahead after a mile. Four horses still held prospects on the run to two out. The eventual winner blitzed clear coming to the last to account for Quarry Wizard by 10 lengths in the style of a smart staying prospect. Gran Cavallo, who was ready to run last season, is owned by Nagle’s 20-year-old son David who is currently in his second year studying equine business at Maynooth.

The closest finish of the day came in the Hurleys Supervalu winners of two with Strideout Euro gamely responding to Ciaran Fennessy’s urgings to edge out Bandon Bridge by a neck. Have A Go Hero led until overtaken by Strideout Euro (6/1) after the fourth last and Bandon Bridge made his move to go second from two out. Veteran Ches Calls Time made an excellent return to action by finishing eight lengths further adrift in third spot. Strideout Euro is trained by Michelle Duggan for Noreen Lynam and the Laharn Cross-based operator indicated that the nine-year-old will run in a hunters chase at some stage this season.

Denis Prendergast produced arguably one of the best training performances of the season so far by saddling the well-supported Sunny Day to make a triumphant return from in excess of a three-year lay off in the closing Southern Fuel & Farm Supplies Ltd seven-year-old and upwards maiden.

The previously once-raced Sunny Day (5/1 – 4/1) was always handy with Kevin Power and the eight-year-old strode on starting the descent from five out. He was in the lead approaching two out with Hurricane Ben also on the scene holding every chance. The Co Tipperary raider however readily rose his effort from the last as he stormed clear to beat Hurricane Ben by six lengths, having his first start for James Sheehan. Lala’s Sister and Finnegan’s Hollow returned a distance adrift in third spot.

Prendergast, who started off Free Expression in points for Lisgoold race sponsor Terry Ryan two years ago, explained that Sunny Day was beset by a few different issues after pulling up at Lisronagh in December 2012 and he also paid tribute to owner Andrew Fogarty for keeping faith with the clearly-useful son of Heron Island.

Third time lucky

It was a case of third time for lucky for Lisgoold on Saturday. The committee were initially scheduled to run on Sunday January 3rd, except that they were then forced to postpone to the following Sunday. They then had to defer until last Saturday, re-opening the entries. They subsequently had to contend with what weather forecasters were predicting as ‘the worst night’s frost of the year’ last Friday night. This prompted them to put back the time of the first race by an hour to 1.30pm. Luckily, the weather forecast didn’t quite materialise and the track was produced in excellent fettle on Saturday. A big well done to all concerned.

Close call

A nasty incident was averted in the closing seven-year-old and upwards maiden when Middleton amateur David Murphy was unseated from his father Jeff’s horse Royal Climbing at the sixth fence. Murphy’s right foot failed to dislodge from the stirrup and the teenager was left helplessly dangling from the horse’s off-side. Thankfully, Royal Climbing slowed down before Derek O’Connor could intervene aboard Hurricane Ben and Murphy then came off. Horse and rider were both unscathed.