POPONG, named after the Waterford-born missionary Rufus Halley who was murdered in the Phillipines in 2001, initiated a mixed double in division two of the Springtime In Wexford Maiden Hurdle for the in-form Henry de Bromhead last Friday.
A book has just been written about Halley in the Phillipines and his brother Gerry, whose wife Debbie owns their homebred mare, said: “He was a wonderful guy. They used to call him Popong there and it’s great to be able to do something for the missionaries by giving them publicity.”
The 16/1 shot did their cause no harm in pulling four and a half lengths clear of the top-weight and favourite Edelpour to give 7lb claimer Hugh Morgan from Kilmacow his fourth win in the saddle.
De Bromhead’s representative David Roche admitted: “It was a surprise and we weren’t expecting it but she jumped and picked up after the last.”
DOUBLE
Gigginstown House Stud’s even-money favourite High School Days, a three-time winner over hurdles, brought up the double when getting off the mark over fences with a decisive four-length success over the front-running Tell Me Annie in the Vinegar Hill Mares’ Beginners’ Chase.
Sean Flanagan’s mount was sent to the front before the home turn, after which the jockey said: “I got a lovely lead off Tell Me Annie and only made the one mistake at the top of the hill. She’s done it very convincingly and I was very happy with her.”
Declan Queally is enjoying a good run and saddled his good servant Cloudy Morning (4/1) to take the €18,000 Boolavogue Novice Handicap Chase in the colours of his Bartlemy owner/breeder Michael O’Donovan.
The always-prominent Cloudings gelding was winning his sixth race under Rules and did it well, regaining the advantage off the home turn in the hands of rising star Darragh O’Keeffe and drawing clear from the last to beat Stowaway Forever by seven lengths.
“We worked out that’s his 75th run, point-to-points included and all the credit has to go to Declan,” stated a proud O’Donovan.
Queally, who then demonstrated his versatility by riding in the bumper, commented: “It’s funny that he’s still a novice but it was a brilliant prize to win with an 11-year-old. He has been a great horse to me, winning three point-to-points and has always done us proud.
“After running so well the last day over two miles, I had this race mapped out for him so, today was the plan and every race he wins after this is a bonus.”
CONVINCING WINNER
The Willie Mullins-trained Pont Aven opened his account over timber with a convincing four-and-a-quarter-length success under the trainer’s nephew Danny in the three-mile Welcome To Wexford Racecourse Rated Novice Hurdle, for which Halsafari proved a disappointing favourite when pulled up before the last.
The 11/2 winner is owned by the three-way partnership of Roderick Ryan, Thomas B. Breen and M.D. Minch and his rider reflected: “He enjoyed the trip and seems to be improving all the time. Hopefully there’s a race for him at one of the spring Festivals – Willie’s well able to find them and hopefully he can win again.”
The same jockey and trainer combination were fancied to enjoy a quick follow-up through Defy De Mee in the first division of the Springtime In Wexford Maiden Hurdle but the favourite only got as far as the fourth flight where Cenotice and Lilly Geal were also brought down.
The race went instead to Pat O’Connor’s 8/1 chance Sullane Hill who led off the final bend under J.J. Slevin and found more in the latter stages to fend off the attentions of Eclair De Rock by half a length at odds of 8/1.
The Ballyduff handler, registering his first success since Knockraha Prince obliged in July 2015, has care of the seven-year-old for Brid Lucey from Ballymakeera in Cork and was understandably delighted with the outcome.
O’Connor reasoned: “Last year he was fourth in a good maiden in Killarney and then, the last day in Thurles he missed the last and might have been second to Walk Away only for that. Henry’s horse is running in a Grade 1 at Aintree today, so the form was good.
“James Hannon, who rides out for me said ‘If he doesn’t win today, I’ll give up’ and he’s a good judge! He’s a chaser in the making.”
ONE TO NOTE
Gordon Elliott’s Mount Ida is a name to note for the future and the KTDA Racing’s Tattersalls Farm point-to-point scorer added a bumper victory to her CV when justifying 13/8 favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares’ Flat Race by a clear-cut seven and a half lengths under Jamie Codd.
There was a lot to like about her performance and the trainer’s assistant Ian Amond said: “Jamie liked her. She had a good run over hurdles and learnt plenty from it. Maybe she might be put away but Jamie seemed impressed by her.”
Scotch Quay, from Eoin Griffin’s yard in Slieverue, didn’t have far to travel to supplement his recent Clonmel victory with a decisive three length success under Ricky Doyle in the Slaney Estuary 80-95 Handicap Hurdle.
The 11/4 favourite is owned by the trainer’s wife Martina and Griffin said: “That’s two local tracks he’s after winning at and it’s amazing what a win can do for a horse by giving them confidence. I know it was a bad race but they still take winning.”
Wexford native Jonathan Moore had the leg up on the Gavin Cromwell-trained Darver Star in the Racing TV 80-123 Handicap Hurdle and, after his main danger Speaker Connolly took a fatal fall at the last, he had time for a glance over his shoulder before easing the 9/1 chance to an eased down 10-length win over Broder.
Darver Star sports the colours of the SSP Number Twentytwo Syndicate, whose members all hail from Louth and will be celebrating for some time.
Their trainer observed: “The last day here over two miles was too sharp for him and the step up in trip was ideal. He’ll jump a fence, too but he had a bit of leg trouble before I got him and appreciates an ease in the ground, so I don’t know if he’ll stay going for the summer.”
HORSE TO FOLLOW:
THEGOAHEADMAN
(J. Harrington): Ran above expectations when, in receipt of plenty of weight, he put it up to Pont Aven in the rated novice hurdle. On that showing, he should be capable of winning a maiden.
Acting Stewards:
M.C. Hickey,
Ms Faith Morris,
P. Coveney, R. Macauley, P.D. Matthews.