Wexford Foxhounds – Ballinaboola Sunday \ Donal Murphy

DE TELLERS Fortune (3/1 - 5/1) added his name to the illustrious roll of honour for the opening four-year-old maiden, with Cheltenham Festival winners Envoi Allen and Telmesomethinggirl successful in previous years.

Bought for €32,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale, the Ellen Doyle-trained bay was never far from the pace under Brian Dunleavy and improved to lead three fences from the finish.

Soon ridden, he kept on well for pressure in the colours of the Baltimore Stables Syndicate, coming home a length and a half to the good despite edging left on the run-in.

Laurens Bay ran on well from off the pace to take second, in a race that was run at a fast pace from flag fall.

“That’s our first four-year-old runner of the year, so it’s nice to get a gauge as to where we are with the rest of them,” James Doyle, the winning handler’s brother, revealed.

“We thought plenty of him coming here today but I’m sure connections of the other six horses thought the same of theirs. Peter Nolan sold him to me and he came highly recommended.

“We got a good run with him from the day we brought him home and he was always a pleasure to do anything with.”

One better

Having filled the runner-up spot in the opener, Cormac Doyle, Jack Hendrick and the Monbeg Farm Racing Partnership, went a place better with Stadium Talk (5/1 - 6/1) in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.

Out of a sister to dual Grade 1 winner Whisper, the chesnut was second at the halfway point, improving to lead on the run to three out.

Soon strongly pressed by debutante Callin Baton Rouge, she battled on gamely in the closing stages to see off that rival by just a neck.

“She had one run in Dromahane last year and was a bit weak,” Doyle remarked. “The horses were a bit sick then, so we put them out in the field. They’ve been healthy since they came back in and she is after improving loads.

“I’d say the Soldier Of Fortune’s [also the sire of De Tellers Fortune] just need a bit of time.”

Dramatic

There was a dramatic conclusion to the five-year-old geldings maiden, with Woodie Flash eventually coming out on top for Co Waterford handler Rosemary Connors.

Owned by her partner Darren Carey, the Leading Light gelding was three lengths down in third when left in a clear lead two out.

The front-running Typhoon Flyer fell at that obstacle and brought down Colin Bowe’s Walks Like The Man, who was travelling best at the time.

Ridden to victory by Barry Stone, the 6/1 chance came home seven and a half lengths clear of nearest pursuer Outside Adesa.

“He is just a very idle horse and when he got to the front today he nearly pulled himself up,” Carey commented.

“He wasn’t fully tuned up when he went to Boulta the first day. He got a nice introduction there and we didn’t knock him about.

“We were quietly confident today with the bit of nicer ground. I think he was getting to the other two when they came to grief.”

NOVICE riders Joanne Corish and Ross Sugrue both partnered their first winner, with Kilmore native Corish successful on Old Style Humour (4/1 - 5/1) for Seán Doyle, who was himself completing an across the card double in the concluding winners-of-three.

A consistent performer, the Aizavoski bay made all and despite being pressed by the returning Dento Des Obeaux in the straight, he pulled out more under pressure to prevail by a length for the Monbeg Partnership.

“I haven’t had that many rides, just mostly on my own horses,” an elated Corish, who is 24, disclosed.

“My dream is to ride over the banks in Punchestown someday. I have a good banks mare called Bonny Dazzler, she ran in the previous race and was fifth.

“I work at home with my father Thomas, with Cormac Doyle and with Darragh Berry as well.”

Breakthrough

Sugrue, who is a native of Tralee, made the breakthrough aboard Lesssaidthebetter (4/1 – 6/1) who blitzed his rivals in the seven-year-old and upwards maiden for novice riders.

Without a win in 28 previous starts, the Philip Rothwell-trained gelding really enjoyed himself out in front, making all under Sugrue and coming home 33 lengths to the good.

The Bishopscourt Cup at the Punchestown Festival is a long-term target for the Ray Nolan-owned nine-year-old, with Sugrue commenting in the aftermath: “We got a nice lead out in front and I just quickened up going down the back the last time. I heard there was nothing coming and he won easy in the end.

“I’m 21 and have had over 50 rides in point-to-points but this is my first winner. We always had ponies growing up and I did a couple of years on the pony racing circuit where I had 30 winners.

“I work for Donnachadh Doyle and do a bit for all of the Doyle’s. I’m thankful to them for the opportunities they give me.”

HAVING earlier been out of luck with Walks Like The Man, Colin Bowe had better luck in the six-year-old geldings’ maiden, with Tara Cove (7/4 – 5/4 favourite) easily justifying favouritism under Barry O’Neill.

An encouraging second at Carrigarostig last month, the Kayf Tara bay was in front from the second and went clear from three out, coming home eight lengths to the good in the colours of Milestone Bloodstock Ltd.

“He is improving all the time and probably likes better ground. He will probably go for a winners’ race now,” Bowe divulged.

Walks Like The Man (C. Bowe): After improving into a share of the lead and yet to be asked a question by Barry O’Neill, he was brought down at the penultimate fence.

Out of a sister to Grade 1 winner Mick The Man, he should have little difficulty in making up for this mishap soon.