Staples enjoys his special day
Lots of Lingstown highlights
THE TRADITIONAL Killinick Harriers pre-Cheltenham point-to-point meeting took place at Lingstown on Sunday and it was a good sporting occasion, despite the testing conditions.
There were a number of notable highlights, but it was a special day for young Seán Staples from Duncormick who had his first winner; a Taghmon horse won for the second time in three days, and a double for handler Donnchadh Doyle (Ballindaggin) brought his weekend tally to a remarkable eight.
It was a poignant occasion for the Codd family as it was the first Lingstown fixture since the death in late January of trainer and handler, William, and a minute’s silence was observed and black armbands worn by the riders in tribute.
William and all his family have been intimately involved with the Killinicks for many years, and the Lingstown track is laid out on his land. He had often acted as a clerk of the course and worked on its preparation.
His parents, Billy and Mary Frances, sisters Lisa and Zoe, and his brother, champion rider Jamie, are all ‘Killinicks’ to the core. Zoe is currently the Declarations Secretary, having taken over the role from her mother.
All the family and many friends were present for this special commemoration.
Jamie was not able to produce a winner on this emotional day, having to be content with a couple of seconds, but that was not the real point on this occasion.
Donnchadh Doyle’s double crowned a great weekend for him and he now heads the handlers’ title race ahead of his friend and neighbour, Colin Bowe.
He took the opening Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham & Ascot Sales four-year-old maiden with Thatsy (Martaline-Rainallday) under James Walsh (Tinahely).
Jamie Codd was second on Denis Murphy’s The Captains Inn and third was The Cull Bank for Brian Jordan (Rathangan) under Mark Scallan (Cleariestown).
Walsh and Doyle’s double was compeleted in the Rostoonstown Stud winners of two with King of the Sharks (Flemensfirth-Kings Rose), but Lady Mantilla ran well in second under Shane O’Rourke for Vincent and Jimmy Devereux.
The Moortown Stud five-yearsold mares’ maiden will always be memorable for 18-years-old Seán Staples from Scar, Duncormick, as he rode his first-ever winner on Redbridge Gold (Goldwell-Marikala) for his neighbours, Ashleigh and Michael Murphy. He had Jamie Codd behind him on Aidan Fitzgerald’s (Borris) Rosie and Millie.
It was a special day also for Jamie ‘Paddy’ Scallan from Tomhaggard who had worked with and was mentored by the late William Codd.
He honoured his memory with a win in the Slaney Foods five-yearold geldings’ maiden on Bubbles of Gold (Gold Well-Bubble Bann) for Seán Thomas Doyle.
He had six lengths to spare over The Tangler Barry for Brian Jordan and Tiernan Roche (Tomhaggard), with Jamie Codd third on Denis Murphy’s Arctic Road.
Vital Island (Trans Island-Persian Pearl), ridden by Seán O’Keeffe from Taghmon for his owner/ training cousin, Richard O’Keeffe, completed a winning double in three days in the Padge Berry Open Race over the famous banks course, following on from a win at Borris on Friday. They beat former track star My Murphy and may now go for the Ladies’ Cup at the Punchestown festival.
In the concluding IRE Wel pallets older horses’ maiden, there was a local success for Vincent and Jimmy Devereux with Ard Chros (Publisher-Threecrossmammies) under Shane O’Rourke (Foulksmills). Young Staples and the Murphys were second with Gold Runner, and Jamie Codd was third on Newlands Cross for Shark Hanlon.
After the formal card, there was a special race over part of the banks course for regulars who hunt with the Killinicks, and winner was Anna Mai Stafford from Patrick Whelan, both from Murrintown. Charlie Doyle from Rathangan showed that age is no barrier to good horsemen when competing - he is in his 70s.
Killinick Secretary, Anita Ronan, thanked the huge number of volunteers that helped to stage the meeting on the day and also worked through the week to prepare the course.