James scores treble
Killanne jockey makes perfect start
THE RE-FIXED Island Hunt meeting at Courtown on Saturday drew a good entry and was run off in lovely conditions, with riding honours going to Rob James from Killanne who had a fine treble in the first three races, for three different Wexford trainers, making it four winners in two days.
He opened with the Tattersalls Ireland four-year-old maiden where he won snugly on Donnchadh Doyle’s well-touted son of Flemensfirth, Needhams Gap, ahead of James Kenny on Colin Bowe’s Southern Sam and J.J. O’Neill (Curragh) on Cormac Doyle’s Dr. Oakley.
He was well clear in the twelve-runner Stone Solutions &Tom Doyle Tiles five- and sixyear-old mares’ maiden on Emmas Joy for Richard Black (Bunclody), with Seán Thomas Doyle’s Crystal Kate third under Colm Kiernan (Meath).
James completed his quickfire treble in the Goffs Punchestown Sale five-year-old geldings’ maiden on Rushour Ryan, a son of Presenting trained by Colin Bowe for Richard Frayne.
He was a fortunate enough winner as No Hidden Charges left him clear when coming down at the last.
Duc De Grissay was second for Donnchadh Doyle and Tiernan Power-Roche (Tomhaggard) was third on The Black McGuigan for Brian Jordan (Rathangan).
Luke Murphy (Inch) won on a chance ride the previous week at Moira up north on Pacte in the Park, and he repeated the feat here in the Ire Wel Pallets & Chris Hatton Winner of One for owner-trainer, Simon Kenny.
This one has switched from the track and seems to relish the change. Shane O’Rourke (Foulksmills) was second on Vincent Devereux’s (Rostoonstown) Makeapoint.
Liz Lalor from Clonmel is running away with the lady rider’s title this year and had a fourth win of the season on Ask Mary, trained by her dad, in the Red Mills Horse Feeds and Casey Concrete mares’ open.
Young Seán Staples (from Scar, Duncormick), had his second career win on his uncle Michael’s Colonel Sam, a son of Black Sam Bellamy, trained by Benny Walsh in Murrintown, in the Kenneth Davis Tree Surgeon older horses’ maiden.
He was ten lengths clear of James Kenny (Craanford) on Montarlot, trained by his dad, Liam.
It was a good afternoon’s racing and the weather gods finally shone on The Island Hunt which has had no luck at all with recent fixtures.