EASILY the performance of the night came from a resurgent Master Speaker who outclassed his opposition in the six-furlong handicap to have Adrian McGuinness looking towards to bigger prizes.
The eight-year was rated 101 at the start of last season but he had dropped to a mark of 72 when his near three-year barren spell came to an end at this track last month. The Shamrock Thoroughbreds-owned gelding was only 6lb higher for this assignment and ran riot under Robbie Downey after taking his time off a searing early pace.
The 13/8 favourite improved from second-last to strike the front nearing the last furlong and he then powered away to defeat Togoville by five and a half lengths.
“He’s won quite easily. Whether we target the handicap on the opening day of the turf season we’ll see but we’ll definitely be looking at the good handicaps during the summer,” said McGuinness, who picked up his charge for €11,000 last October.
The useful Financial Conduct (11/4) made a pleasing return from a two-month break to win the mile and a half handicap in good style. On his first foray into handicaps, the Harbour Watch gelding was produced with his effort a quarter of a mile from home and he responded well to Shane Foley’s promptings to master Alcander. At the line, the J.P. Ledwidge-owned gelding had one and three-quarter lengths to spare and he looks like one to follow.
“He’s a lovely, big horse and he had a nice break after he won his maiden before Christmas,” reflected Oliver. “I thought he might need the run but Shane was impressed with him and so was I. There’s a few nice races for him here next month and hopefully he’ll keep progressing.”
REVERSED
What looked likely to be the most uneventful race of the night was anything but as the stewards, unsurprisingly, reversed the placings in the three-year-old maiden with Max Velocity (9/2) awarded the race over the 2/9 favourite Port Lions. The front-running Port Lions and Pat Smullen were being pressed by the Rory Cleary-ridden Max Velocity with over a furlong to run but the market leader didn’t do his rival any favours by edging right and carrying them both over to the stand’s side rail.
Port Lions edged further right late on as Max Velocity gathered himself for another effort and, with the winning margin just a head, the stewards reversed the placings after a reasonably lengthy deliberation. Michael Halford, trainer of Port Lions, has appealed the decision. The Swipe Right Syndicate-owned winner gave trainer Cormac Farrell his first success in Ireland since October 2014.
Garvan Donnelly registered his first success of the year as stable stalwart Plough Boy (5/1) shrugged off top weight and a wide draw in the five-furlong handicap. A winner from seven to 10 furlongs earlier in his career, the seven-year-old was only narrowly denied over this course and distance a month previously so the minimum trip held no fears for him. He got on terms with the leaders approaching the last furlong and then kept on willingly for Donagh O’Connor to score by a head.
“Donagh rode him a couple of runs ago and he felt the horse would have no trouble coming back to this trip,” reflected Donnelly. “He’s got plenty of boot and he is generally better on grass so we’re looking forward to that but hopefully he might win another here before then.”
SKIBBEREEN SUCCESS
It was an evening to savour for Skibbereen-born apprentice Adam Farragher (18) as he rode the first winner of his career on Mostawfee (14/1) in the 45-65 rated mile handicap. The 20-race maiden had finished down the field on his last run at fortnight previously but had previously posted some sound efforts on the polytrack.
Farragher got his mount to the front with well over a furlong to run and the pair held off the persistent 20/1 shot Baby Bellini by half a length
“It’s great for Adam. That’s only his 10th ride. He hadn’t sat on a horse until this time last year and he came to us from RACE,” reported Johnny Feane who trains the gelding for Dundalk Bay Sea Foods Limited. “I’m delighted for Adam and the horse had run some good races here in the past.”
A deserved success came the way of Winston Wolfe in the older horses’ maiden over an extended 10 furlongs. Darren Bunyan’s charge was placed on all five of his runs last year and turned out fresh and well on his first run since September.
The 5/1 shot, who is owned by Shauna Carroll and Daniel Givens, battled with Spiral Galaxy over the last quarter of a mile and looked as if he might be coming off second best at one point. However, Winston Wolfe rallied well in the closing stages for a head success.
“I’m delighted for Shauna and Daniel who have been very patient with him and given him plenty of time,” declared Bunyan. “He’s schooled over hurdles and is a real natural over them so we are looking forward to that but he wants better ground so we are just waiting for it to dry up.”
UP MAYO
A terrific winter season for Mayo-based trainer Fergal Birrane continued as California Lad readily defied top weight in the 45-65 rated 10-furlong handicap.
The five-year-old, who is now undefeated in three outings over this course and distance, was ideally placed in second for Ross Coakley before then brushing aside the front-running Mulzamm with over a furlong to run. Califoria Lad (6/1) finished with two and a half lengths to spare over course specialist Shake The Bucket.
“This place has been awful lucky for us, it’s unreal,” stated a delighted Birrane who was making it seven wins for the winter season.
“He was very relaxed beforehand and he’s taking his racing very well,’’ the trainer said of the D. MacAuliffe & Anoj Don Partnership- owned winner.
“He’ll be one for the turf later on in the year too.”
ACTING STEWARDS
J. Murphy, A. Byrne, S. Collins, J. Osborne, M.F. O’Donoghue
Horse To Follow
KINDLY (J.F. Levins): This filly shaped quite nicely on her second run back from a lengthy absence when finishing third to Master Speaker in the night’s feature. The winner had any amount to spare at the finish but Kindly’s effort suggested that her turn may not be long in coming.