Ballycrystal beats weather...

After two storms in the week preceding last weekend it came as no surprise to many that point to points would struggle to run, and so it came to pass as on Saturday Oldtown was abandoned at the second time of asking having been postponed from the Sunday previous, then word came through that Kildorrery was also after falling foul to the weather.

This left both Nenagh and Ballycrystal standing their ground for Sunday, however Nenagh too were forced to cancel after an early morning inspection whilst Ballycrystal went ahead.

However the late cancellation of Nenagh left a sour taste in the mouth of many, a few trainers had landed down with their runners, one of whom had travelled from the North, whilst another Co-Meath trainer who had driven to Nenagh then rediverted to Ballycrystal a total journey time of nearly five hours.

This late call at Nenagh was unacceptable and surely the time has come to treat those involved with a bit more consideration.

Ballycrystal, in Co-Wexford went ahead against the back drop of the Blackstairs mountain not that one could appreciate the location as the rain lashed down for five of the six races coupled with high wind it proved to be an unpleasant day, but full credit must go to the organising committee and everyone involved for making it a successful day.

Defending Champion rider Barry O Neill departed the day with a brace of winners.

O’Neill got off the mark in our opening nine runner 4yr old maiden where he teamed up with local trainer Colin Bowe and his charge Sleeping Satellite (5/4-9/4) with the progeny of Mahler leading home a Colin Bowe one, two.

In fact it was the eventual runner up Puddlesinthepark (2-4) under James Kenny who looked the likely winner between the last two obstacles however Barry O’Neill conjured up one final effort out of the winner and with a quick leap at the last it was the 9k purchase Sleeping Satellite who dug deepest scoring by 2L.

“This lad was going to Nenagh but when they were called off I decided to come here” said successful trainer Colin Bowe, “He is a very straightforward horse old fashioned type, jumps and stays and will be sold now”.

Barry O’Neill doubled up in the winners of one contest as he teamed up with the Vinny Halley trained Mizuma (2-4) to land this in good style by 3/4L, however the victory was all the more credible as the winners saddle slipped four out.

Always prominent the 7yr old progeny of Milan was challenged strongly over the last two obstacles by 6/1 shot Hector Jaguen and Brian Lawless but Mizuma was always holding the eventual runner up with 3/4L between them at the death.

Successful trainer Vinny Halley was on hand to greet his winner, whom he trains for his father Laurence, of the winner he said “He had a good run at Carrigtwohill the last day and I gave him a right squeak coming here, Barry said he had plenty left and he will now go for a winners race next”.

Both the winner and runner up were both maidens going into this with the winner having been campaigned in winners company previously and raced with the aid of a tongue tie.

Another rider to depart the meeting with a brace was Brian Lawless landing both the Mares Open and the older geldings maiden.

Recent Killeagh scorer Ifeoinly (2-3-2) revelled in the underfoot conditions here to land the Mares Open in good style.

Lawless had the 8yr old progeny of Oscar in a prominent position throughout in this five runner contest, however she looked a sitting duck going to three out as both The Forge Hill (2-4) Sean Staples along with 4/6shot (from evens) La Feline under Pa King closed to within 2L of the Kerry raider.

But try as they might the eventual second and third could not land a telling blow on the winner as Ifeoinly kept finding plenty in front going on to see it out by 2.5L from The Forge Hill with the jolly some 1L further back in third.

Successful trainer Eoin MC Carthy was on hand to greet the winner as was winning owner Brendan Walsh from Moycullen from Galway, of the winner MC Carthy said “She is a smashing mare, brave, gutsy and honest to a fault, I would think we will go for a hunters chase next”.

Brian Lawless doubled up half an hour later as he teamed up with his trainer father Gerard to land the concluding 6yr old and upwards maiden with the debutante Red Ford Lad (3-6).

The successful son of Court Cave was half a length down going to the wings of the last but a faster leap here by the 6yr old saw him hit the front and on the level he asserted going on to score comfortably by 4L from Benjamin Braddock (3-5-4) and Paul Bannon.

The winner will now more than likely be sold said successful trainer Gerard Lawless.

Sunday was red letter day for 18yr old Eoin Middleton as he partnered his own horse Well P (4-8) to victory in the fourteen runner 5yr old geldings maiden.

Middleton produced the eventual winner with a wet sail between the final two obstacles to get on terms with Blue Fin (3-5) and Troy Walsh, the pairing took the last as one and on the run in the progeny of Ask found the greater resolve under Middleton to get up to score by half a length.

Trained by Mary Doyle, who was represented on the day by James Doyle and of the winner Doyle said “That was a great spin by Eoin, he is a grand young lad who joined us within the last twelve months, he owns this horse himself along with his father Patrick, the winner is a smashing horse and he will run in a little winners race next”

18yr old Eoin Middleton is from Birr in Co-Offaly and he purchased this lad locally at home, he said “I joined Doyle’s there last Summer and fair play to them they have been very good to me I am going to try and make a go of this race riding and sure fingers crossed”.

The nine runner mares maiden went the way of the Robert Tector trained Rock The Hill (3-5) the mount of Jack Hendrick who got up late to score by 3/4L.

The Rob James partnered Some Woman (2-7/2) led briefly going to the wings of the last but on the level she could not repel the late surge of the daughter of Shirrocco, Rock The Hill who prevailed by 3/4L.

Through driving rain Successful trainer Robert Tector indicated she would be sold now.

NEXT WEEKEND.....

Bandon, Lisronagh, Tinahely are all scheduled for Sunday whilst on Saturday we could potentially have Kildorrery and Nenagh, but given the weather forecast for the week ahead all that is subject to change.