Moore’s hoping for glory
Adamstown jockey targets Champion Hurdle success
WEXFORD JOCKEYS have their sights set on glory at the annual Cheltenham Festival which will get under way today (Tuesday).
Jonathan Moore (Adamstown), has struck up a great partnership this year with Gavin Cromwell, who appointed him as stable jockey last September.
Cromwell won last year’s champion hurdle by a record 15 lengths with the ill-fated Espoir d’Allen, who died after a freak training accident last August at just five years old.
Moore and Cromwell will be hoping to repeat the feat in the Hurdle on Tuesday with Darver Star (12/1), which Jonathan says is his top ride of the week. He is ultra-consistent and followed a win at Wexford last April with four more on the trot.
He sparkled in the Grade 1 Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last month when only beaten half a length by super-mare, Honeysuckle, who was getting the seven pounds mares’ allowance. A repeat of that form should have him bang in there coming up the hill on Tuesday.
Jonathan will be riding Theatre of War (14/1) in the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle and may get a spin on Alfa Mix in the Coral Cup, both on Wednesday.
Jamie Codd is technically an amateur rider, though he is a master of his craft on the track and between the flags and has a Cheltenham record that would be the envy of most professionals.
His nine wins include two in the bumper in recent years against the top pros, on the ill-fated Fayonagh and last year on Envoi Allen.
Jamie will be re-united with Ben Pauling’s Le Breuil (10/1) as he bids for an unprecedented fifth win in the Kim Muir Chase on Thursday. He pipped Barry O’Neill on Paul Nolan’s Discorama in a thrilling National Hunt Chase duel last year, and Le Breuil is near the top of the market at 8/1.
He rides Raven Hill (8/1) for Gordon Elliott in the National Hunt Chase on Tuesday, and he rides the fancied Queens Brook (7/1) for him in the bumper on Wednesday. He has a couple of other rides still to be finalised but it will be a surprise if doesn’t come home with a winner.
He has a couple of other rides still to be finalised, but it will be a surprise if he doesn’t come home with a winner.
Barry O’Neill (Kiltealy), champion point-to-point rider for the past three years, has three decent rides.
His best chance may be in the Kim Muir when he takes on Codd and others on Henry De Bromhead’s Plan of Attack (11/1), very consistent and third in the Paddy Power Chase.
He rides New Tide (11/1) for Kim Bailey in the Nat.ional Hunt Chase on Tuesday, and links up with his great northern ally, David Christie, on Dylrow on Friday in the Christie
Foxhunters.
Seán Flanagan got good news from the medics on Thursday when the wiring was removed from his jaw injury, and he has been cleared to ride. He broke his jaw on February 8 at Naas, returned ‘to the scene of the crime’ at Naas for one warm-up ride on Sunday, and should be good to go at the Festival today (Tuesday).
J.J. Slevin (Caim) has already got two Cheltenham wins under his belt, the Martin Pipe Conditional in 2017 on Gordon Elliott’s
Champagne Classic, and the Fred Winter last year on Joseph O’Brien’s Band of Outlaws.
He has also won an Irish Grand National (General Principle) and a Grade 1 on Tower Bridge for O’Brien. He has had 28 winners this season (up to Friday) over 20 of them for his cousin, Joseph.
He hopes to have three or four rides, though some things have still to be finalised. He gives a good chance to Sempo (16/1) in the Albert Bartlett on Friday ‘if the ground dries out’. He will be in against Paul Nolan’s Latest Exhibition but says he won’t be afraid to take them on.
He rides Us and Them (33/1) later that day in the Grand Annual and hopes to get a couple more spins when arrangements are sorted out.
Daryl Jacob (Davidstown) is the retained rider for the powerful Simon Munir-owned string and he will have a big book of decent rides from the top stables like Mullins, Elliott, Henderson, Nicholls, King and more. He will have hard choices to make in some of the races.
Confirmed are Fusil Raffles in the Supreme or the Champion Hurdle, Shakem Up’Arry in the Ballymore Novices, and Sceau Royal in the Champion Chase (both Wednesday). His riches include Kildisart, Torpillo, L’Ami Serge, Bristol De Mai in the Gold Cup, etc.
Seán O’Keeffe from a great Taghmon racing family turned pro in mid-2018 and his career has really taken off this year, with 25 winners putting him at 15th place in the jockeys’ table.
He has no firm arrangements for Cheltenham yet but he is going over and is hopeful of picking up rides in some of the handicaps where his claim can be very useful. He is specially aiming for the closing race of the meeting, the Martin Pipe Conditional, on Friday evening.
Mikey Fogarty Cleariestown) had a hugely successful amateur career before turning pro in 2013. He had 140 winners before taking a break at the end of 2017. He returned in October and has been successfully picking up the pieces.
His big day at Cheltenham was in the Martin Pipe Conditional Hurdle in 2014 when he won on Don Poli.
Willie Mullins has been using him quite a bit and he will be hoping to pick up a few rides to confirm his return to the big time.
THE BIG game of the day saw Forth Celtic remain on course for a treble as they overcame Seaview United 4-1 in the quarter-final of the Wexford Cup on Sunday in a game that was closer than the scoreline suggests.
Seaview could have taken the lead early in the game when awarded a penalty but it was well saved by Megan Butler, and they paid the ultimate price when Sarah Siggins put Forth ahead shortly after.
Jess Devereux levelled for Seaview on the stroke of half-time, but Celtic went back in front in the first minute of the second period when Natasha Byrne-Rossiter scored.
Seaview battled hard for the equaliser but picked up two nasty injuries in the second-half which reduced them to ten players, and goals from Lynn Marie Grant and Sarah Siggins booked Forth’s place in the last four.
Courtown Hibs recorded a big win against in-form Division 2 side Bunclody and progressed to the last four courtesy of an 8-1 win.
Marian Cardiff scored to put Hibs 1-0 up at the break, but three goals in six minutes from Erin Carroll and two from Aoife Gleeson had them 4-0 ahead before Laoise Kearney scored for Bunclody.
Further goals from Amy Robertson, Niamh Territt, Irene Grant and Megan Cahill saw Hibs comfortably through.
North End also gave their season a boost with a 2-1 win over Kiltealy Celtic to put all three Premier sides into the semi-final. Niamh Tormey and Matilda Meaney scored the goals for the youthful Wexford town side
In Division 1, Corach Ramblers returned to joint top of the table after an emphatic 11-1 win away to an understrength St. Joseph’s side.
Sophie Kirwan scored for the home side, but five goals from Grace Donovan and one each from Shannon McDonald, Triona Sinnott, Niamh Miller, Geraldine Curtis, Sophie Scallan and Rebecca Stafford gave Ramblers the three points.
Tombrack were low in numbers but big in heart as they overcame Camolin 3-1 in Tombrack to ease their relegation worries.
Georgina Creane scored for Camolin, but goals from Becky Connaughton, Shannon McGovern and Mary Boland saw Tombrack pick up a vital three points.
In Division 3, Wexford Bohs kept their title challenge on track in an easier than expected fashion as Enniscorthy United were unable to get enough players together to field a team.
Gorey Rangers were the big winners in the Under-12 Premier Division as they consolidated their position as favourites for the title with an emphatic 8-0 win against a decent Curracloe side.
A Lucy Flanagan hat-trick, two goals from Rebecca Keating, and one each from Ellie Larkin, Grace Beasley and Alea Murphy saw them open their campaign with all three points.
All Blacks and Ballindaggin played out a thriller, with Ava Wallace scoring the only goal of the game to give All Blacks all three points.
New Ross Town and North End United played out an exciting 2-2 draw, with Ciara Nolan and Sarah O’Leary on target for Town.
In Division 1, Shelburne United travelled to Bunclody and came away with all three points courtesy of an Aoife O’Connor goal in a game where there was very little between the sides.
Rosslare Strand took the honours in the local derby at home to Rosslare Rangers, running out 2-1 victors thanks to two goals from Lucia Donohoe, with Eabha Griffin on target for Rangers.
In Division 2A, Bridge Rovers travelled to Fastnet Rovers and came away 3-1 winners thanks to two late goals.
After a scoreless first-half, Fastnet went ahead through Rebecca Feehan, but two goals from Emma McEldowney and one from Zoe Prendergast-Ryan gave Rovers victory.
Two goals from Eva O’Gorman weren’t enough for Adamstown as Megan Hayes scored five and Mikayla Tobin-Cosgrave added two to give Tombrack a 7-2 win.
In Division 2B, Corach Ramblers beat Seaview 2-0 in an early morning kick-off with goals from Naoise Rose Cullen and Lily Mullen.
Five goals from Abbie Gaffney and two from Ruby Noonan saw Cushinstown overcome Rosslare Rangers Yellow 7-1.
In the final match of the day, Forth Celtic overcame Coolboy Rangers 4-0. Two goals each from Méabh Hegarty and Sophia Mullarney saw Celtic take the points in a late afternoon kick-off.
Bunclody returned to the top of the Under-16 Premier Division after overcoming a determined Curracloe side 2-1 to give them their fourth win of the season. They currently sit one point ahead of Adamstown.
Olivia Morris was on target for Curracloe, but two goals from Katie Moynihan gave the home side victory.
In Division 1, New Ross Town pipped North End United 2-1 with goals from Aoife Kielthy and Niamh Bates.
In Division 2, All Blacks ran out 5-0 winners thanks to an Aoibheann Rankin hat-trick and a goal each from Rachel Nacey and Maeve Kenny.
Gorey Rangers travelled to Bree United and came away 2-1 winners with goals from Leyla Fortune and Yasmine Allain, while Yvonne Hennebery was on target for the home side.