AT this Tinahely fixture in 2011, Jamie Codd rode all six winners on the card, a feat that Barry O’Neill tried to repeat last Sunday, and although he did not manage to win all six races, he did end up with a fine tally of four.

The first winner of O’Neill’s four-timer came in the opening four-year-old maiden which went the way of the Milestone Bloodstock-owned Routine Excellence for O’Neill’s boss Colin Bowe.

In a slowly run affair where all eight runners held a chance turning in, it was the son of Getaway who quickened away best from the last to score by three lengths, beating the Donnchadh Doyle-trained Aucunrisque in the process.

The winning rider commented: “He’s a smart horse and loved that ground. We fancied him for last season but with the lockdown, we didn’t get a chance to run him. It was a bit of a messy race, but the best horse came out on top and he’ll go to the sales now.”

O’Neill and Bowe partnered up again for their second victory of the day with another debutant, Milans Edge, who scored in the maiden race for five-year-old mares.

This Manverton Limited-owned daughter of Milan, who is a full-sister to the John Joe Walsh-trained Romella, was always towards the head of affairs.

Despite a bad mistake at the fifth, she recovered well and made her move at the second last. It never looked in doubt thereafter and she won by a comfortable five lengths.

“She did it very easy, she was the last off the bridle. I’m not sure what road she’ll take now. We’ll chat to the owners before any decision is made. She’ll win plenty of races and is a nice filly going forward,” said O’Neill.

Treble up

The reigning national champion’s treble was brought up in the feature open race on the Gordon Elliott-trained Mighty Stowaway.

You’ll be hard pressed to find an easier winner this season as the Philip Reynolds-owned son of Stowaway led from flag fall and the victory never looked in doubt.

He was supplementing his most recent success which came at the track back in January when he was trained by Shark Hanlon.

It was an impressive display of galloping and jumping from the former 133-rated chaser who was most recently beaten 63 lengths in a handicap chase at the Galway Races in July.

O’Neill commented afterwards: “He did it at his ease. He jumped spectacular. I was only in second or third gear the whole way around.”

O’Neill completed his four-timer and in the process brought up a hat-trick for the absent Colin Bowe in the concluding older geldings’ maiden aboard Houston Texas.

In a thrilling finish, the son of Dylan Thomas just got up to beat the Jamie Scallan-ridden Local Rogue, with the judge taking a few minutes to separate the pair following a thrilling battle up the hill.

The Milestone Bloodstock-owned winner was deservedly getting his head in front at the third attempt following a pair of fine efforts in defeat at both Necarne and Moira in recent weeks.

“It has been a very good day. This horse missed a bit of time as a four and five-year old, but he’s a very tough horse and I imagine he’ll be sold now,” said the Wexford rider.

THE maiden race for five-year old geldings featured the largest field of the day with 13 runners facing the starter. Plenty held chances turning for home, with the Tinahely hill soon sorting them out.

It looked like the long-time leader Easter In Milan had done enough in the hands of Calvin Nugent as he approached the last with a four-length advantage, but he was just collared late on by the fast-finishing Golden Roc.

Trained by Paul Cashman, the son of Shirocco was held up towards the rear by James Murphy. He still had the majority of the field to pass turning for home, but he showed a great turn of foot from the back of the last to get up close home in the colours of Catherine Cashman.

It was a fourth career victory for winning rider Murphy who said: “That’s a great win, it’s my first ride for Paul Cashman. Michael (O’Sullivan) was going to Umma House to ride for Richie Harding so it was brilliant to get the ride. He’s a lovely horse, jumped great and travelled. I got caught on the inside coming up the home straight, but he had plenty of toe to get away from them.”

THE John White-owned Sofias Castle put her experience to good use in the mares’ winner-of-one contest as the daughter of Arctic Cosmos ran out a fortunate two-length winner.

Handler Jason O’Reilly made the long journey up from Bandon worthwhile with his mare who raced prominently throughout in the hands of Eoin O’Brien.

The winner looked booked for second spot heading down to the last as the leader, Fern Arable, had yet to be asked a serious question when she made a bad mistake and came down. That left Sofias Castle in front to pick up the pieces.

“She’s a nice, honest mare. She had a lot of experience compared to some of the fancied ones and she put it to good use,” said the winning rider.

“She jumped super. She was always making ground without me having to ask any question and to be fair, it was a good job from Jason. I imagine she’ll stick to those mares’ winners now and she’ll be good fun.”

Horse to follow

Fern Arable (Denis Murphy): The daughter of Fair Mix won on her debut at Necarne several weeks perviously and looked set to collect here before coming down at the last. She looks like a mare to keep on side in the coming weeks.