O’BRIEN IS TOP DOG
Aidan receives major HRI award
CONGRATULATIONS to Aidan O’Brien on winning the HRI award for top performer on the flat scene in 2016. In most years, Dermot Weld would have been a serious contender for winning both English and Irish Derbies with Harzand, but O’Brien could not be denied and his ‘Minding’ was awarded Horse of the Year.
He marked his 20th year at Ballydoyle with 22 Group 1 wins worldwide along with a 1-2-3 in both the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas and the Prix De l’Arc De Triomphe, the latter a career highlight. He was Champion Trainer in Ireland for the 19th time and he was Champion Trainer in Britain for the fifth time.
He came so close to ending the year on a really high note in the multi-million Euro Hong Kong Vase on early Sunday (our time) with globe-trotting Highland Reel and Ryan Moore being pipped by half a length as they tried to retain the crown.
Trainer Don Cashman from Rathgarogue, had a nice winner at Clonmel on Thursday when Bobby the gangster opened his account under rules in the colours of his partner, Talitha Doran, in a handicap hurdle in the hands of Conor Walsh from Killurin.
The horse, a two-time Points winner, was kept wide throughout by Walsh and the tactics paid off. They hit the front approaching the second last and, and kept on well on the run-in to score comfortably at 8/1.
Cashman was quick to give credit to Gusserane rider, Eddie Keating: “He rides him out at home and his input made all the difference,” he said. The Cashman yard had scored two wins in August and September with War of the Pennies, and he also competes regularly on the point to point scene.
Mikie Fogarty (Cleariestown) rode a nice race to score on 14/1 shot, Powersbomb, for Limerick trainer Brian McMahon in the beginners chase, making all.
At Navan on Saturday, there was a promising run at a big price by The King’s Baby (66/1) from the Adamstown yard of Moses McCabe to finish 3rd in a 19 runner maiden hurdle under Conor Brassil. The horse was handled by Kieran Roche to win a Point at Castletown-Geoghegan in October.
Most of the Wexford interest was on Cork on Sunday rather than Punchestown and Sean Flanagan had another big winner in the €35,000 Kerry Group Stayers Novice Hurdle. He romped home for Noel Meade on Rathnure Rebel (9/2), upsetting odds on favourite, Gordon Elliott’s Monbeg Notorious.
Flanagan was second in the €39,500 grade 3 novice chase on Misty Lady (12/1) for former Wexford jockey turned trainer, John Cullen, and third here was Mark Scallan (Cleariestown) aboard the consistent Annamatopoeia (20/1), trained by Brian Jordan.
This race was won in impressive style by the 4/7 Willie Mullins favourite, Listen Dear, under Paul Townend, her sixth win in succession.
This one offers hope to all racing dreamers – she was purchased for €1,000 as a foal and has now won over €90,000.
After a slow start, Willie Mullins is now at full throttle and he had six winners between the two meetings on Sunday.
On a quiet week in England, Daryl Jacob kept up his impressive recent run. He had two wins from three rides at Doncaster on Friday, on Might Bite (1/2f) for Nicky Henderson and Midnight Jazz (9/4) for Ben Case.
He switched to Cheltenham on Saturday and was at his best with a determined ride on Wholestone (13/8f) to win the £30,000 grade 2 Albert Bartlett novice hurdle for Nigel Twiston Davies.
Tom O’Brien won on Tuesday at Fontwell on Star Rider (15/8) for Hughie Morrison, and he followed up on Thursday at Warwick on Briery Belle (9/4f) for Henry Daly. He kept up the good work on Friday at Cheltenham on Kapstadt at 12/1 for Ian Williams.