TRAINER Fran Flood, who took over the licence following the death of his late father Francis last year, sent out his second winner in the Carrick-on-Suir 80-102 Mares Handicap Hurdle at Clonmel on Thursday, five days after the same horse, Peace N’ Milan, had given him his first at Fairyhouse last Saturday.
Backed at 11/4 the previous evening and again partnered by 7lb claimer Ricky Doyle, the six-year-old tracked the leading group to go second behind Zipporah after three out. Challenging at the next, where he put in an awkward jump, Peace N’ Milan shaded it at the last and kept on stoutly to justify 11/8 favouritism by three and three-quarter lengths.
Flood, who has 17 or 18 horses in his Grangecon yard at the moment, a lot of them youngsters, has care of the daughter of Milan for her Warrenpoint owner/breeder Leonard Kelly.
He said: “With the type of race it was on paper, it didn’t look the strongest race and Zipporah got a good hike as well as ourselves.
“Ricky’s claim was a help and we needed it today. We’ll give her a bit of a chance and aim her at something in about two weeks time. She was a very, very slow learner, but she’s slowly improving and, the thing is, she likes that heavy ground.”
GIGGINSTOWN DOUBLE
Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud and his retained rider Bryan Cooper carded a quick double in the opening two races via Clara Sorrento and Monbeg Chit Chat. Sharps Choice was easy to back in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle and ran accordingly to finish a moderate fourth behind the Noel Meade-trained Clara Sorrento.
The 9/1 chance jumped on at the penultimate flight and was pushed out to defeat the long-time leader Without Limites by four lengths. They pulled 28 lengths clear of Goaheadmakemyday. The French-bred had some nice form in the book, despite having disappointed on his last two starts.
“He did it well, settled well and jumped very well,” said Cooper. “They went a nice gallop and he kept going. Brian (O’Connell) was trying to force it but I knew my lad had a bit of speed and was trying to save it. He’s a chaser down the road.”
Meade added: “He’s a lovely big horse and we thought an awful lot of him when we started working him first, but he has been disappointing. It just took him a long time to find himself and he had a nice run in Naas and came on from it too.”
ALWAYS PROMINENT
Cooper and Gigginstown followed up half an hour later with the always prominent 1/5 favourite Monbeg Chit Chat who was eased down at the finish of the Lisronagh Maiden Hurdle to hold the staying-on effort of Chatham Street Lad by two and three-quarter lengths.
Successful trainer Henry de Bromhead commented: “I knew if he could reproduce his run here the last day, he had to have a good chance and Bryan was happy with him.
“He thought he was still babyish, but felt he had plenty left.
“I’ll look for one of those rated novice hurdles for him and there’s one at Limerick on March 30th.
“I wouldn’t mind stepping him up in trip. He was very disappointing on his first run at Down Royal where the ground was good, but seems to relish that heavy ground. He’s improving all the time and he’ll be a nice chaser next year.”
Itsallhappening headed the betting for the three mile Comeragh 80-109 Handicap Hurdle, but relinquished his lead to Returntovendor off the last bend and was soon outpaced in third behind Jarlath Fahey’s 7/1 shot who fought back under Ian McCarthy to regain his advantage on the line for a short-head success over For Carmel.
Homebred in Kilcock by Pat McCarthy the winner is “a good tough customer, who has been knocking at the door all the time,” according to his handler. “He’s honest and loves a track with a hill and that tacky ground.
“It’s good to get another win out of him.”
LUCKy track
Clonmel has been a lucky track for Goulane Chosen’s Co Waterford owner/breeder Mary O’Donnell in recent times and, having struck with the Seamus Spillane-trained Goulane Davina at the last meeting here, she was on the mark in the Slievenamon Rated Novice Chase with Goulane Chosen, from the David McGrath stable.
Market leader Double Island looked leg weary in third when coming to grief at the last.
The 7/2 scorer was overdue his win and McGrath reflected: “At last! He had good form but just lost his way a bit, so we decided to take the bull by the horns today and they went a good gallop.
“You have to get the odd one and the end justifies the means.”
Co Wexford trainer Liz Doyle saddled her mother Avril’s Maguire’s Glen, with Donagh Meyler in the saddle, to take the Kilsheelan 0-123 Handicap Chase.
The 3/1 favourite jumped the second last well and was not for passing, when tackled by Black Zero from the final obstacle, to hold on by a length.
Doyle stated: “He had a little issue last year and I never got to train him. It’s been three years since he won and he takes a while to get fit, but you know when he hits form, he will follow up and he had his ground and his trip today and was on the right side of the handicap.”
The Real Article’s half-brother Nun’s Island became the fourth homebred winner on the card to collect when coming out on top for Edward O’Grady and his wife Maria in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race by half a length at the expense of Nicat’s Benefit, with the favourite Alighting back in fifth.
In doing so, the five-year-old was giving his 17-year-old local pilot Liam Quinlan, who works for Andy Slattery and has six point-to-point wins under his belt, his first racecourse success. O’Grady, who hasn’t had too many runners of late, may consider a mares winners bumper for his unconsidered 14/1 victor.
He said: “She’s a well-bred mare and she won’t go hurdling until next season. She has a nice pedigree and hopefully she’ll go on to better things.”
Lambs Lane is banned for 42 days
THE Philip Rothwell-trained Lambs Lane was banned for 42 days in accordance with the provision of Rule 212 (A) (v) as a consequence of the actions of his rider James O’Sullivan, who was suspended for five race days and ordered to forfeit his riding fee after being found in breach of Rule 212 (A) (ii).
Blackmore banned
RACHAEL Blackmore picked up a three-day ban for using her whip with excessive frequency on For Carmel, while Returntovendor’s rider Ian McCarthy was suspended for four race days for the same offence.
ACTING STEWARDS P. Ronan, S. McDonogh, A.J. Molloy, S. Quinn.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
CHATHAM STREET LAD (M. Winters): This newcomer, from the family of Hennessy winner Broadheath, looked to be crying out for a longer trip, judging by the way he stayed on strongly into second in the two-mile maiden hurdle. One to keep on your side.