FIRST TREBLE FOR HANNON
There was some stellar fare on offer at Sunday last’s Tallow point-to-point staged at Shanakill Cross and run under the auspices of the local West Waterford Hunt.
Tallow Jockey James Hannon has been enjoying a real a real upswing in fortunes over the last couple of seasons and on Sunday that good run continued as the elder statesman of the weight room booted home his first ever treble and was agonisingly close to a four timer.
Hannon got off the mark in the opening nine runner 4yr old maiden, the first of the 4yr old races to be run on the Cork/Waterford circuit, and here he combined with the David Murphy trained Matata (2-ev) a home bred/owned belonging to Thurles man Donal Commins.
Hannon elected to make all with the son of Vadamos and despite racing very keen in front, the predominantly flat bred was very efficient at his fences. However, between the third and second last obstacles Benny Walsh produced his own horse Bannow Bay Boy (3-5) with a wet sail to lead over two out and quickly steal a length on the eventual winner. Matata is nothing if not tough, rallying again under Hannon to lead over the last and once on the level the pairing drew right away to score snugly in this Sunnyhill Stud sponsored event with 3L the winning margin, with these two the only finishers.
Fermoy native David Murphy the successful trainer here was on hand to greet his winner and of him he said “That was great not totally unexpected as he has always shown us plenty at home, James gave him a very good ride there so it’s great, he is owned by Donal Commins and it is out of his yard in Thurles that I am training so it is great to keep the landlord happy, I would imagine he will be sold now after that”.
The Goffs UK sponsored 5yr old gelding’s maiden saw James Hannon bring up the middle leg of his treble on board the Mick Goff trained Well Dick (2-4).
The son of Well Chosen unseated on his only start to date at Aghabullogue, but there were no such problems here as he winged his fences for Hannon and in truth had this contest put to bed a long way out, the Brian Dunleavey partnered Flash Conroy (2-4) kept the winner honest right to the death but was still 1L adrift at the judges trailer with the only other finisher Thomas Mor (4-7) and James Kenny some 12L further back in third.
“Thank God he got the job done,” said Co. Wexford trainer Mick Goff. “Look he was unlucky the last day but these things happen, he is a very good horse great to jump, stays all day and has a high cruising speed, he will go to a sale next, I gave 20k for him as a foal at Doncaster, Hannon is some operator though we are two from three now together I wish I could get him to come down one day a week, he is worth his weight in gold”.
The first ever James Hannon treble was completed in the six runner Openlight weight contest as he teamed up with the James Motherway trained Na Trachtalai Abu (2-7/2) and in taking this lowered the colours of the Limerick at Christmas Hunter Chase winner Lord Schnitzel.
Chris O’Donovan assumed his customary front-rank position with the odds on shot Lord Schnitzel (1/2-4/7-1/2) and enjoyed an uncontested 12 to 15L advantage throughout in this Rathbarry and Glenview Stud sponsored contest.
As the contest unfolded it was the eventual winner Na Trachtalai Abu along with Brazos (3-4) under Adam Feeney who closed to within 4L of the jolly three out and on the downhill run to two out this margin was down to 2L, Brazos was slow, effectively ending his chances whilst Na Trachtalai Abu landed upsides, the front two had a right old battle over the last two furlongs or so. Within the shadow of the post the now 12yr old son of Beneficial found the greater resolve, going onto score by 1.5L at the death with Brazos a similar margin back in third.
The former Midlands National winner in 2019 was welcomed back to rapturous applause by connections in the parade ring with the successful trainer’s father Frank stating “To win this with this horse means more to me than anything”.
Successful trainer Killeagh man James Motherway said of the winner “He lost his way a little on the track and the owner Brian Acheson said to go back pointing with him to sweeten him up, so it is great it has worked out, he will tip away in points for the foreseeable”.
This horse started off his career as a 4yr old back in Dromahane in 2014 where he finished second and was partnered by James Hannon on that occasion, going down by 6L to the Nina Carberry ridden Adam De Breteau.
Adam Feeney, who recorded his first winner on the track at Limerick recently, continued his good run when landing the Coolmore Stud sponsored 6yr old and upward gelding’s maiden with 6/1 shot Hitthekettle for trainer Robert Clancy, however lady luck played a big part in this success.
The well supported Max’s Champion (3-2) under James Hannon had skipped 12 to 15L clear of the chasers on the downhill run to two out, the son of Champs Elysees got in tight to this and paid the price at the landing side, his demise gifted the contest to the Clare raider with the recent Killeagh fourth Hitthekettle, who raced with the aid of a tongue tie, staying on to score by 40L from Glenavaddra (4-8) and Richie Kiely.
“Ah we were lucky,” said successful trainer Robert Clancy. “He ran well enough the last day and we will more than likely go for a winners’ race next, I must thank my father Ger and neighbour Niall Kelleher as they have both been a big help to me this week as I’m currently knocked out, I have ten in so it’s busy enough but they have been a great help”.
21yr old Clancy suffered a heavy fall at Carrigtwohill the previous Sunday which left him with a hairline fracture of the femur, broken ribs, and a cracked jaw but as he said himself “otherwise I am fine” - tough stuff these Sixmilebridge men.
Brian Dunleavey is enjoying a good enough season to date in the plate and on Sunday the Dungourney man teamed up with both trainers Alan Ahern and Michael Griffin to land a double.
First up was the Alan Ahern trained She’s A Saint (3-5) who put up a very impressive performance to land the thirteen runner Old Road Stud and Gain Feeds sponsored 5 and 6yr old mares maiden.
This debutante daughter of Saint Des Saints always caught the eye in running and when Dunleavey gave her the hurry up on, the run down to the second last the response was imminent and with a big bold fast leap here she landed 2L to the good a margin she maintained right to the death to eclipse Ami Des Flots (4-7) and Chris O Donovan. The always prominent Well Vicky (5-8) stayed on well for Steven Tobin just 1.5L back in third.
Dungourney based trainer Alan Ahern was on hand to greet his first winner of the current campaign and of her he said “I was worried about the ground coming here as she is not overbig and that old tacky ground wouldn’t be ideal for her, but she was in great order at home and I just had to run her. I bought her as a foal and I think she has developed into a very smart type. I have no great plan from here, I am delighted for Brian as he never sat on her before today but fair play he did nothing wrong, John Barry was to ride her but he had to go elsewhere to ride for another man.”
Brian Dunleavey brought the curtain down on the day as he teamed up with trainer Michael Griffin to land the concluding Connery and Goulding families along with BH Tree Services sponsored Adjacent Hunt maiden with eleven going to post here.
Always prominent Plan B (2-5/2) under Dunleavey assumed a 5 to 6L lead going out into the country for the final time and as the contest unfolded it became apparent that his dangers were in front of him rather than behind him. But the 6yr old son of Valirann was fleet-footed at his obstacles, eventually coming home 8L clear of Breeze Of Wind (3-6) and Brian Barry with Moll Cartys Mare (4-6) and Danny Fitzgerald some 3L further adrift in third.
“He is a smashing big horse,” said successful trainer Michael Griffin. “I was afraid of the ground coming here but to his credit he handled it well, he will stay pointing and go for a winners’ race next, I bought him out of a horses in training sale, Gearoid O’Loughlin had him previously, he is one of seven I have in at the moment”.
Of all the winners on the day this is the one horse who kept the gallop right up coming back into the winners enclosure, indicating he had plenty in the tank and will be very competitive in a winners’ contest.
NEXT WEEKEND
We are in Knockanard next weekend and hopefully the weather gods will be kinder to the committee there than they were in 2020 when the meet had to be abandoned as a result of high winds and a blown-away tent, fingers crossed.