Michael Duggan

DONNCHADH Doyle edged one ahead of fellow Wexford trainer Colin Bowe at the head of the handlers’ championship when saddling two winners at last Saturday’s North Kerry Harriers’ fixture at Tralee Racecourse.

Doyle’s first visit to the winner’s enclosure came when his Bon O’Neill-ridden Monbeg Notorious (4/1) ran out an impressive winner of the opening Gerard Griffin, Builder & The North Kerry Harriers Hunt Club four-year-old maiden.

A first fence faller on his debut at Athlacca, this son of Milan led into the home straight and comfortably held the challenge of Ronnie O’Leary’s newcomer Western Cape by five lengths.

Doyle, who was on crutches having suffered a broken toe when a horse steped on him at home a week earlier, remarked: “This is a lovely, big horse that jumps and gallops and that’s my seventh four-year-old winner of the season. We bought him at last year’s Derby Sale and we’ve always liked him. He’ll go to the Brightwells sale at Cheltenham during the week.”

Doyle Double

In-form Doyle went on to complete his double when his 2/1 favourite Savingforvegas ran out an impressive winner under Derek O’Connor of the Feales Bridge Co-Op & Gerard McCarthy five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

This daughter of Beneficial was sent past the front-running Rose Of Coolavin on the approach to the home straight and she galloped on resolutely to beat Lastbutnotleast by four lengths.

“That Derek’s first winner for me,” disclosed Doyle. “This is a smart mare. She had a great run the first day, but never got into any kind of rhythm the last day. Here she won very nicely in the end. She has a good pedigree and may go to Brightwells during the week as well.”

O’CONNOR WINNER

Champion-elect O’Connor went to ride a second winner when guiding the Rosemary Rooney-owned and trained Scobie (5/1) to victory in the second division of the Bon Secours Urgent Care six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

Left in front when Dreamchasing fell two out, the Mohaajir-sired Scobie was always in command thereafter and drew away in the closing stages to beat James Cregan’s Great Anticipation by 24 lengths.

Tipperary-based Rooney remarked: “This fellow is 11 now and is very much a fun horse. It’s lovely he’s won and Derek was great on him. He leads out all my young horses at home and is a lovely sort to have around the place.”

Newry, Co Down trainer Liam Lennon’s nine-hour round trip to the Kingdom was rewarded when his Mark O’Hare-ridden, Eugene Ryan-owned 7/4 favourite Without Wings tasted victory in the concluding Lee Strand Co-Op mares’ winners of three contest.

Sent to the front from flag fall, this daughter of Winged Love, who had scored at Necarne seven days earlier, made most of the running when coming home four lengths to the good over Eugene O’Sullivan’s Forever Eva.

“It’s a long trek down here but it was well worthwhile now that we’ve won,” stated Lennon. “This mare is in good form at the moment and may well turn out again at Ballingarry next weekend. I might give her a spin on the track as well before we let her off for the summer.”

JAMIE CODD

Denis Murphy and Jamie Codd combined to land the ‘In Memory of Dr. Arthur Spring’ five-year-old geldings’ maiden with 6/1 shot Call Me Ben. Sent to the head of affairs between the final two fences, the son of Beneficial stuck to his task in admirable fashion to beat Shay Barry’s Aintree My Dream by five lengths.

“This horse is 17.1hh and is just a big baby,” remarked Murphy in the winner’s enclosure. “He has a strong pedigree and there is loads of improvement to come from him. He’ll go to the sales at Cheltenham during the week and will make a lovely horse for someone across the water.”

Eight faced the starter in the Kerry Group open lightweight where 4/1 shot Red River Gold scored for Midleton, Co Cork trainer Donie Murphy and jockey Eoin O’Brien.

The contest was opened up when even-money favourite Pocket Reader ran out at halfway, with Red River Gold staying on best in the closing stages to beat runner-up Saddlenomore by half a dozen lengths.

Murphy, who trains the successful son of Croco Rouge for Ballincurrig publican Anthony Smart, divulged: “He did it very well. Last Sunday at Bartlemy the ground was that bit too quick for him. He likes a bit of dig in it. He’ll probably go for the hunters’ chase at Listowel over the bank holiday weekend.”

GOOD STYLE

The first division of six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden was won in good style by the Ciaran Fennessy-ridden Dr Ted (5/1).

Trained at Rathcormac, Co Cork by David Barry for his neighbour John Cotter, this lightly raced six-year-old by Dr Massini stuck his neck out in game fashion to deny runner-up Emeralds Choice by four lengths.

Barry said: “I only have this horse four weeks and I’m delighted he’s won. Ciaran gave him a great ride. I think he’d even prefer a bit of nicer ground and may well go for a winners’ race somewhere next weekend.”

Horse to Follow

WESTERN CAPE (R. O’Leary): This son of Westerner underlined his potential when chasing home Monbeg Notorious in the opener. Was given a patient ride and came home in the manner of a horse that will come on in leaps and bounds.

Praise for Murphy

WEXFORD owner Thomas O’Sullivan was loud in his praise of trainer Denis Murphy following the success of his Call Me Ben in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

“Denis is a great trainer and more importantly a very good friend,” said the Gorey-based dairy farmer. “I always have two or three horses with Denis as he’s only four miles from me at home. We bought this fellow at the August Sale at Tattersalls and we’ve always liked him. He’s a big horse who was just backward and Denis says he’ll make up into a smashing staying chaser. We had a winner last week with Arctic Lady, so things are going great for us at the moment.”

Different horse

EOIN O’Brien was impressed with the manner in which his mount, Red River Gold, made the step up from a recent Athlacca maiden win to comfortably land the open lightweight.

“I wasn’t that surprised how he won as his form in maidens was very strong,” said the Mitchelstown, Co Cork native. “He jumped great today and now that he has gotten that bit of confidence over his fences, he’s a totally different horse. I’m delighted for Donie (Murphy, winning trainer) as he been very loyal to me over the years. I also ride out for Jimmy Mangan, Marie Harding and Denis Ahern and I try to help out as many as I can,” added the popular 27-year-old.