MOST Honourable has earned his place in racing’s record books. Having last month been Andrew McNamara’s last winner as a jockey at Tramore the ‘Shark’ Hanlon-trained five-year-old moved on to Clonmel on Thursday to give Rachael Blackmore her first success as a professional in the Woodrooff Handicap Hurdle.
The 11/2 chance was spotted by another Rachel, this time Hanlon’s partner Rachel O’Neill when offered for sale by Darley at Ascot’s Brightwells Sale in August and he was subsequently knocked down to Hanlon for just £600.
Now sporting the colours of Daniel Mulhaire from Co Mayo, Most Honourable flashed past the post in unison with the long-time leader Rock On Bach but judge Jennifer Walsh managed to split the pair, coming down in favour of Most Honourable by a short head. The duo pulled five lengths clear of Santo Prince in third and it was a further two and a half lengths back to the favourite Beautiful Ben.
An elated Blackmore confessed: “I can’t believe it’s happened and because he was Andy’s last and my first winner makes him a special horse for everyone in the yard.” The rider, who clocked up 18 wins as an amateur, 11 of them between the flags, joined the paid ranks on March 16th and has always had Hanlon’s backing. Gary Cribbin is her agent.
O’Neill was equally buoyant and said: “He’s the owner’s first horse and it’s great for Rachael who’s still with us and gave him a super ride.”
On a night of firsts, 24-year-old Frank Hayes from just outside Thurles got off the mark in this country thanks to 9/4 joint-favourite High In The Clouds who struck for Doneraile handler John Joe Walsh when capturing the New Inn Opportunity Maiden Hurdle by two and a quarter lengths from Cliffside Park. The other joint-favourite Coolfighter finished fourth.
Hayes has gained plenty of experience and recounted: “I’ve ridden in France and England and I’ve ridden winners on the flat for Andrew Balding and a couple over jumps for David Pipe. I’ve been with John Joe a year.”
Walsh has care of the six-year-old for John McGivney from Mullingar and said: “Frank did what he was told and he’s a nice horse. He ran well behind a good horse at Limerick at Christmas but was out of action for a while. I hope he’ll improve a little bit on that.
“He jumps well, the ground suited him and he’ll go for a handicap next in three or four weeks time. He’ll be a nice horse over fences later on.”
Fellow 7lb claimer Niall Kelly, who suffered a bad fall over the same course on his first ride as a professional last December, emulated their achievements when the Supreme Horse Racing Club’s Listen Dear gave him a facile first success for the Willie Mullins camp in the Mylerstown Maiden Hurdle.
The 4/6 favourite was never headed and made every yard to beat the equally prominent Orion’s Might by an easy 18 lengths.
The successful handler was represented by his son Patrick who said: “Niall has been with us a year and a half and he’s a very good rider. He rides Hurricane Fly when Paul (Townend) isn’t there.
“I thought he gave her a good confident ride from the front. She has a huge cruising speed, jumps fantastic and needs good ground. We’ll see what races are available to her.”
EASY WINNER
Jockey Michael Butler will seldom ride an easier winner than Perfect Woman, from the Michael Winters yard, who jumped to the front at the third last in the Kilsheelan Mares Maiden Hurdle and was pushed out to justify 7/4 favouritism by two lengths from Table Tips.
Owned by John Madden from Ennis, the seven-year-old had been found wanting on a couple of occasions but Winters said: “In fairness to her she’s been consistent all the time and this is the first time she’s got her ground (officially good).
“We’ve freshened her up and she’ll go for a mares’ beginners’ chase next. She’s got a good old pedigree and is from the family of Second Schedual who won the Cathcart Chase.”
The Kanturk trainer’s explanation to that effect regarding the winner’s apparent improvement in form was accepted by the stewards.
Former Kilkenny All-Ireland winning hurler Kieran Purcell was on the mark in the Giantsgrave Handicap Hurdle with his daughter Elaine’s 8/1 shot You Can’t Catch Me who lived up to his name in the hands of Paddy Mangan when taking the spoils by two and a quarter lengths and the same from joint-favourites Cloudy Morning and Emmy Lou.
The Windgap trainer commented: “He’s a nice horse who promises more at home than he does on the track but hopefully he’ll keep it up. He’s a great jumper who has to have plenty of room to jump and plenty of daylight.”
KIELY SUCCESS
John Kiely is enjoying a good run of success at present and last month’s Tramore victor Master Appeal followed up for the two member Express Racing Syndicate from Cork when landing the three-mile Derrygrath Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
Kiely said of the syndicate: “They’re good owners and they’ve been with me a long time. Sadly one of them passed away but the others kept it on and this is the fourth horse they’ve had - three of them have won.
“He seems to be improving a bit and likes these up and down tracks. He seemed to come into the race easily and then just got tired but it was his first time over three miles and he went a few horses wide.”
Bowenscourt gave her trio of owners Kieran Leavy, Lorcan Cribbin and Pauline Twiss cause for celebration with her comprehensive six-length defeat of market leader Simiel in the Munster (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race. The five-year-old was partnered by Finny Maguire, for whom it was a 16th success in the saddle.
Trainer Mag Mullins reflected: “Patrick (Mullins) rode her the last day and she’s turned inside out since – maybe the penny’s only starting to drop. She has a nice pedigree so I’m delighted she won and she’ll go hurdling now.”
Mullins concluded: “That’s the first time Finny has ridden for me. He gave her a lovely ride.”
HORSE TO FOLLOW
CLOUDY MORNING (M.T. O’Donovan): Rarely runs a bad race and deserves to get his turn after being in the frame on his last four outings, most recently when runner-up to You Can’t Catch Me in an 80-95 handicap. Has shown a liking for this track in the past so look out for him at the next meeting here.
Acting Stewards S.McDonogh, P. Coveney, Mrs Frankie Ward, P.D. Matthews
Ban
CLIFFSIDE Park’s rider Donagh Meyler was hit with a two day ban for careless riding in the two and a half mile handicap hurdle at Clonmel.