WITH nearly 180 outings between them in public, three warriors of the National Hunt scene triumphed at Listowel on Monday, headlined by On The Fringe’s return to winning ways in the Join The Listowel Supporters Club Hunters Chase.
In 2015 and 2016 Enda Bolger’s great servant – “he has been my best horse” – famously won the hat-trick of big prizes in this sphere at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown.
Thirteen now and on a losing run of 10, J P McManus’ Exit To Nowhere gelding was ridden for the first time by Aine O’Connor.
Odds-on favourite Minella For Value pulled up lame early on the final circuit and up the straight On The Fringe (4/1) had too many guns for Vinnie Luck as six lengths ultimately separated them.
“I was just so nervous coming as I wanted him to finish in one piece but we’re not going to make any decision (regarding retirement) today,” said Bolger afterwards.
ATKINSON
It was with sadness that amazingly durable point-to-point stalwart Don Atkinson hung up his boots after his final place finish on Sandycove Island in this three-miler. The 55-year-old got a guard of honour from his fellow jockeys to mark a career spanning 40 years over five decades.
Draycott Place is only a nine-year-old, but he’s seen action on more than double the amount of occasions that On The Fringe has.
Owner/trainer John Ryan keeps the Oscar gelding busy when conditions are in his favour, and with Mark Enright up top for the first occasion in a race, the 12/1 shot took out the featured John J. Galvin Handicap Chase.
Danny Mullins has taken the reins many times on Draycott Place but this time he was just behind the leaders when his mount Montalbano fell at the last. From there, Draycott Place got the better of The West’s Awake by half a length.
Ryan’s other hope, Kylecrue, finished sixth, but unfortunate market-leader A Rated (13/8), who took the eighth spot, was found to be injured post race.
“He was very unlucky at Ballinrobe (a week earlier) when I felt there should have been a stewards’ enquiry and I felt he was very unlucky to be beaten,” reflected Ryan.
Draycott Place lost out by just a nose at Ballinrobe but one that fared a lot worse at the Mayo venue was Ancient Sands. That didn’t stop him from bouncing back in the Harvest Festival 9th-15th September Handicap Hurdle.
Tailed off in last place in one of the highlights at the western venue, the Coranna Handicap Hurdle, six days beforehand, 33/1 chance Ancient Sands resumed normal service to win for a third time in Brian Hayes’ hands.
He’s been a fantastic servant all told for his owner/breeders, the Mee family, and this was a 12th career win for the 10-year-old.
John Kiely has now had care of the Footstepsinthesand gelding for five of his wins and the veteran Waterford operator cut a satisfied figure in the aftermath.
Hayes gave Ancient Sands a patient steer to upstage Beau Et Sublime by two and a half lengths prompting Kiely to say: “He (Hayes) gets on very well with him.”
At an improvement in form enquiry Kiely explained that Ancient Sands jumped slow at the first and second hurdles last time out.
He also said that his charge never travelled on ground that was not ideal. This going was thought to have brought about the apparent improvement in form and those explanations were noted.
course WINNER
Division two of the Mike Lawlee Memorial Handicap Hurdle saw Tiernan Power Roche (20) join forces with fellow Wexford men, owner Patrick Farrell and trainer Gordon Doyle, to ride his first racecourse winner on Trans Wood (7/1).
This mare had been due a win which she accomplished here by two and a quarter lengths from Giveittomestraight.
Division one of this 80 to 95 rated two-and-a-half-miler won’t be forgotten by Yvonne Dunleavy for a while as she saddled her first track winner since 2010 when Padraic O Conaire (10/1) did the business.
Conor Brassil brought John Dunleavy and Jarlath McDonagh’s Mountain High gelding through from the back up the straight as plenty still held claims.
However, Padraic O Conaire had much too much for his rivals from before the last. Lagenod chased him home at a margin of six lengths.
Based at Dunraven Stud in Wales now, Mountain High also sired the victor in the finale, as The Red Menace (3/1) made it two from two in the Dr Louis O’Carroll INH Flat Race.
Owner/breeder Denis Hannon has this promising type with Noel Meade and Mark O’Hare powered him to success by two lengths from Macgiloney.
The stewards enquired into interference in the closing stages between Macgiloney and The Red Menace. Jack Hogan, rider of the runner-up, was deemed to have ridden carelessly and was banned for a day.
Willing (6/1, pulled up) was found to be clinically abnormal post race and Declan Queally said that his mount stopped very quickly.
SUSPENSION
Returning to the saddle after suspension for a positive drug test, Ger Fox’s iron broke going past the stands on Biddy The Boss in the Kingdom (Mares) Maiden Hurdle.
Fox rode the 3/1 second favourite without stirrups after that and they did well to finish fourth to Sapphire Lady (2/1 market leader).
Danny Mullins partnered Sapphire Lady for his uncle Willie, and owner/breeder Anthony Butler.
Andrew Lynch’s saddle slipped on third placer Ayr Of Elegance.
The following John B. Keane (C & G) Maiden Hurdle cemented a profitable start to the afternoon for many punters with Gigginstown House Stud’s Black Key (11/8 favourite) obliging.
Dylan Robinson rode Black Key for Henry de Bromhead and the Authorized gelding showed the benefit of experience to defeat Storm Rising by a length and a quarter.
Acting Stewards
P. McLernon, M. J. Doyle, J. McGuire, G. Coughlan, M.F.O’Donoghue
HORSE TO FOLLOW
TIMETOGET (J. Harrington) She had to switch to launch her final bid when second behind Sapphire Lady and is going the right way.