THE Michael Murphy-trained Look To The West lit up Sunday’s Doneraile Harriers meeting at Dromahane by posting a dominant front-running performance to claim victory in the truly run four-year-old mares’ maiden, a race won by the mighty Honeysuckle in 2018.
With ground conditions noticeably on the easy side thanks to a trojan watering effort, Look To The West (6/1 - 8/1) vindicated the promise that she displayed against the geldings on her debut at Lingstown last month despite falling at the last in Barry The Butcher’s maiden by jumping from fence to fence with 23-year-old Mikey Sweeney.
The winning daughter of Westerner was gone beyond recall from the penultimate of the 14 obstacles and she crossed the line with 10 lengths to spare over Fortunefavorsdbold.
“I’ve loved this filly all along, but my horses were under a cloud when she ran in Lingstown. I knew that she was right coming here today,” said handler Murphy of the Redbridge Stables-owned winner, a daughter of the listed placed chasing mare Brotenstown.
Look To The West was quickly added to Thursday’s Goffs UK Sale at Aintree.
Over the bar
Likewise bound to go under the hammer at Aintree is Denis Murphy’s Croke Park (7/4 - 9/4 favourite), who overcame some trouble in running to oblige under Harley Dunne in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Croke Park, the only winning favourite throughout the course of the afternoon, brought the best form to the table in this seven-runner contest as he had finished second to Barry The Butcher on his initial outing at Lingstown on March 13th and he always travelled smoothly as Helnwein and Isocrate vied for supremacy at the head of affairs.
While the victorious son of Walk In The Park found his passage blocked from three out, he still extricated himself after erring at the second last and he quickened appreciably to take the measure of newcomer He’s My Hero on the flat to score by a length in what was the closest finish of the day.
“He’s a nice horse that’s still a big shell and his homework has been brilliant,” remarked owner/trainer Murphy of his physically imposing Derby Sale graduate.
THE Robert Tyner-trained newcomer Doubtcha Mossy Boy (6/4 - 3/1) impressed by showing his rivals a clean pair of heels in the six-year-old and upwards maiden.
Doubtcha Mossy Boy was always positioned close to the pace and the victorious son of Curtain Time eased to the front for Derek O’Connor with two fences remaining to put eight lengths between himself and the gambled-on Theshoddytradesman.
Former handicapper Rocconrockall shaped well on his points debut by finishing third, an additional four lengths adrift.
“We were quietly expecting him to run well and he does everything very nicely at home,” said Tyner’s wife Mary of Doubtcha Mossy Boy’s, called after his Riverstick-based owner Maurice Kelleher’s 14-year-old son Mossy who was on hand to join in post-race celebrations.
Rowan rallies
Chris O’Donovan continued his fine season as he was the only rider to depart with two winners and he opened his account courtesy of the Declan Queally-trained Carrigmoorna Rowan (6/1 - 8/1) in the five-year-old maiden, the race that attracted the biggest field of the afternoon in 16 runners.
Carrigmoorna Rowan, having pulled up on his only previous outing behind Well Dick at Tallow in February, was bounced out in front and he stylishly asserted on the run to two out.
With his closest pursuer Quest With Speed then exiting at this penultimate obstacle when some five lengths adrift in second, the winning son of Sea Moon bounded clear to dismiss newcomer Sound And Fury by 16 lengths in the colours of the Old Fools Partnership that includes breeder Michael Veale.
CHRIS O’Donovan completed his brace by returning to the coveted number one slot aboard the Martin Fitzgerald-trained maiden Marriage Ring (8/1 - 12/1) in the mares’ winners of one.
The successful nine-year-old, who pulled up at Ballynoe the previous weekend, was three lengths adrift of Mangan Sue in second spot when Patrick Doyle’s Co Wexford challenger fell at the second-last.
Marriage Ring, owned and bred by her absent handler’s father Joe Fitzgerald from Inch outside Killeagh, was then left clear to beat Presenting Ana by 10 lengths.
The elder Fitzgerald, a long-standing points supporter, indicated that Marriage Ring could now run over fences for the summer.
Alan O’Sullivan became the latest member of the O’Sullivan clan from Lombardstown to sample points success.
The 17-year-old, whose father William rode Lovely Citizen to win the 1991 Cheltenham Foxhunter, partnered a first winner aboard his uncle Eugene O’Sullivan’s It Came To Pass (4/1 - 5/1) in the novice riders’ open.
The 2020 Cheltenham Foxhunter winner It Came To Pass got into a lovely rhythm with his first-time partner and he readily picked up the running before two out.
The winning 12-year-old was clearly travelling best when throwing a spectacular leap at the last and he then swept clear to account for long-time leader A Rated by 10 lengths.
It Came To Pass, representing Manchester-based owner Mrs Alurie O’Sullivan, will continue running in points before retirement at the end of the season.
Alan O’Sullivan is studying for his Leaving Certificate at Mallow CBS.
Horse to Follow
He’s My Hero (M. Flynn O’Connor): The son of Telescope, a half-brother to Grade 2-winning hurdler/chaser Killala Quay, went down fighting when losing out to Croke Park on his debut in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden. He should develop into a smart track performer.
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