HENRY De Bromhead and his good claimer Dylan Robinson kept Alan Halsall, one of the directors of Aintree racecourse, happy when Visioman gave the English owner his first success in the Clonmel Racecourse Supporters Club Rated Novice Hurdle at Thursday’s low-key fixture.
The 9/2 chance is one of two horses Halsall, who was represented by his son Ben, has with de Bromhead and they were both in action at the meeting.
However, the French-bred Visioman had to survive a stewards enquiry into possible interference with the runner-up Leap Dearg before the celebrations could begin.
No alteration was made to the placings, but Robinson did incur a one-day suspension for careless riding.
The Knockeen trainer said of Visioman: ‘’He did edge a bit left, but won snug enough and likes that ground. He’s a really nice horse and he had a good run in Kilbeggan.’’
Eoin Griffin, who has gone 14 months without a winner, came in from the cold with a welcome success for Blondes No More at the favourite Cailean’s Angel’s expense in the Ancient East Mares Maiden Hurdle.
Racing in the colours of her Shannon owner Mark McDongh, the 7/2 chance battled it out with the favourite from the last to shade it by a short head for Mark Enright.
A relieved Griffin observed: “It was a weak contest, but she was entitled to take her chance. I had intended going the handicap route with her but her owner, who is at the Rolling Stones concert, spotted this race a couple of weeks ago.
“Her dam won two races and she’s not as speedy as her, but she’s tough and genuine and will come on a lot from that run. She’ll be a nice filly for the summer.” A stewards enquiry failed to alter the result.
ROLLING STONES
Ray Cody, who is Ellmarie Holden’s assistant trainer, was a happy man following Kilbeggan runner-up Amschel’s comfortable two-length victory under Rachael Blackmore in the Clonacody Maiden Hurdle because his wife Gillian, a vet who rides him out every morning and led him up, is the joint owner with her husband.
Holden was also attending the Rolling Stones concert that night and Cody explained: “I bought him for very handy money at Newmarket to sell him on and he’s a cast-off from Luca Cumani’s. He’s only a frame of a horse, but Galway is the plan for him down the line if he’s not sold.
“He’s a horse I think will win a maiden on the flat and he should be a nice summer horse. Hopefully there’s plenty more to come from him.” The favourite Giant Spirit sadly broke a leg on the approach to the fifth flight.
Katie O’Farrell became the second female rider to strike when rank 33/1 outsider Redwood Boy caused a major upset with his half length defeat of Something Sweet in the Sliabh Na Mban 80-95 Handicap Hurdle, a race that produced a lot of scrimmaging in the latter stages and prompted a stewards’ enquiry, resulting in a one day careless riding ban for O’Farrell.
His trainer ‘Shark’ Hanlon, whose other runner Baily Sunset finished third, commented: “When I work the two of them at home, there’s nothing between them and there was nothing between them again here. I’m delighted for his Roscrea owner John Sherlock who’s been in horses for a good few years. He’s not the most genuine horse in the world, but he has the job done now.
“He’s in Doncaster sales next week and we’ll see, he’s capable of winning another race. It’s four years since he last won, but he hates bad ground and every day he ran last year, the weather broke!” The hot-pot Cottonvale was a faller.
MEMORY LANE
Dessie McDonogh saddled the J.P. McManus-owned Hearts Are Trumps to take the Team Powerstown 80-109 Handicap Hurdle and gain a valuable bracket when driven out by Mark Walsh for a three and a quarter length win over Tarazani at odds of 10/1.
The trainer took a trip down memory lane when saying: “I’m from Limerick and learnt my trade with P.P. Hogan’s brother back in the 1970’s. I got to know J.P. then and had a horse for him a couple of years ago, but that’s my first winner for him and Mark’s first for me.
“This horse is out of a full-sister to Denman, so I hope he has a nice future ahead of him. Mark said he liked that ground and he’ll go over fences down the line over a trip.”
Jack Kennedy teamed up with Jessica Harrington for a narrow success through 9/1 chance Loupgarou in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap Hurdle.
Owned by Diarmuid Horgan from Dungarvan, the French-bred was awkward at the last, but responded to his jockey’s urgings to deny Mr Picotee by a head, with market leader Stacks Mountain back in fourth.
Kennedy said: “I pulled him out to deliver my challenge wide and he ran on well. He probably did well to get up.”
STEWARDS ENQUIRY
Willie Mullins sent out Suinda, who had been off the track since last year’s Listowel Festival, for a two and a quarter-length win under her Dublin owner Luke McMahon’s son Aubrey in the Friday June 8th BBQ At Clonmel Races Mares INH Flat Race.
A number of horses became unbalanced on the good ground with well over a furlong to cover, leading to the inevitable stewards enquiry, plus an optimistic objection from the third-placed Derek McGrath which was swiftly over-ruled. He picked up a one-day careless riding ban instead.
The 8/1 winner’s rider remarked: “She did it well. Her last run was in Listowel, but she’s got a lot stronger since then and is a nice mare. She’s a sister to Ma Garrett and that’s the reason we bought her.”
ACTING STEWARDS:
N.P. Lambert, P. Coveney, M. Murphy,
M.F. O’Donoghue.
HORSE TO FOLLOW:
BAILY SUNSET (J.J. Hanlon): Noted doing some nice late work at the finish when fourth at Down Royal on her first outing for 286 days, she should be able to build on her close third to stable-companion Redwood Boy and pick up a handicap in the near future.