Legend makes Feeney’s Day

Twenty- two-year- old Adam Feeney had a day to remember on Sunday last as he recorded his career first double at the well supported Carbery Foxhounds point to point staged at Kilpatrick, Bandon.

Feeney opened his account in the four runner Adjacent hunt maiden where he teamed up with the John Murphy trained Kitsilano (1/2-ev-4/6) with the pairing running out easy 10L victors.

The home bred 5yr old progeny of Fame And Glory was settled in third spot from the outset by Feeney and on the testing old ground he sat and waited until meeting the rising ground up to the fourteenth and final obstacle before giving the eventual winner the hurry up. With a sure-footed leap at the last the recent Carrigtwohill fourth duly drew right away scoring effortlessly by 10L from the Michael O’Sullivan partnered Dundaniel (2-3).

Upton trainer John Murphy was absent on the day but was represented by his son George and of the winner he said “He had a grand run the last day and he improved for it and he did that easy enough to be honest, I would think he will go for a winners race next, full credit to Adam he was good on him there, Adam comes into us most day’s he is a hard worker and a great lad to have around the place”.

Just a neck separated the first two across the line in the Open Lightweight at Knockanard and these two protagonists Fennos Storm and Mac Legend renewed rivalry here and whilst Fennos Storm may have come out on top at Knockanard, it was the veteran the now 14yr old Macs Legend under Adam Feeney who well and truly got his revenge here to the tune of 26L in this novice riders contest.

Fennos Storm (5/4-2) under Mikey Tobin was behind the bridle from the drop of the flag and to his credit he led to four out where both Macs Legend along with Solomn Grundy (5/2-4) and Robbie Jackson eased to the head of affairs.

Going out of sight after the second last here was little to choose between either Macs Legend or Solomn Grundy but on reappearing it was the veteran son of Blueprint Macs Legend who had pulled right away and once safely over the last he went on to score snugly by 10L from Solomn Grundy with a further break of 12L back to Smithscorner (3-5) and James O’Reilly with Fennos Storm plugging on for fourth some 4L further back in fourth.

Macroom trainer Gerry Kelleher was on hand to greet his winner the first of the current campaign and of this lad he said “This fellow is like a 2yr old at home and his owner Shane Prendeville who’s nearly 70 rides him out every day, he will tip away in Opens and maybe Ballynoe next”. This winner now moves Adam Feeney on to the six-winner mark in his career to date to compliment his sole track winner.

Dungourney trainer Matt Collins sent out his Global Focus (3-5) to land the 5yr old geldings maiden and in doing so the debutante son of Milan created a very favourable impression.

Partnered by Brian Dunleavey he assumed command on the ascent to the final obstacle and once safely over this he had plenty in hand running out a comprehensive 3.5L victor over the Paul Cashman trained Divine Inspiration (3-4) and James Murphy.

“That has come as a great surprise,” said successful trainer Matt Collins. “To be fair he was working well at home but he was our first runner in the Spring campaign and sure we didn’t really know where we were with them, credit to Brian though he was good on him sat away didn’t panic great spin, I would imagine he will be sold now”. The winner was a 24k Land Rover store sale purchase.

At the eleventh time of asking the Robert Maloney trained Whiskey For Jack (2-3) finally got his day in the sun as he ran out a comfortable 5L victor in the 6yr old and upwards gelding’s maiden for which five went to post.

The Chris O’Donovan partnered Love The West (5/4-2) tried to make every post a winning one but try as they might they could not match the eventual winner from the back of the second last as Michael O’Sullivan gave Whiskey For Jack the hurry up and from here there was only going to be one result. Despite idling a bit in front the progeny of Westener still had plenty in hand scoring by 5L from the Tipperary raider Love The West.

The cheek piece sporting winner was the first of the season for trainer Robert Maloney and of this lad Maloney said “Firstly I must thank Gemma Buttimer (Coachford) for allowing me to swim this fellow at her place, he came out of Carrigtwohill with a little knock so we just swam him after that, he will go for a winners of one next if not sold”. The dam of the winner Miss Brownstown was trained by Robert Maloney’s brother Paul to win a mare’s maiden at Dromahane.

Thurles trainer Sam Curling sent out the last two winners of the day and it was his Ask Lileen (2-9/4) built on her recent Kilfeacle third to land the mares maiden in good style under Pa King.

Always prominent King sent the daughter of Soldier Of Fortune on three out and from here she was holding too many aces for the eventual runner up Apple Away (4-6-2) and Michael O’Connor with 6L between them at the death.

Successful trainer Sam Curling was at Lisronagh but the mare’s owner Richard Downes was on hand and he said “She is a smashing mare and I would think she will be sold now”.

The Curling / King partnership struck again in the concluding winners of one as Wasdale Park (3-4) snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. On the ascent to the last recent Boulta scorer Meetingofhtewaters (5/4-7/4-6/4) under Maxine O’Sullivan hit the front and had poached a length or so going to the wings of the last but a slow leap here handed Wasdale Park another bite of the cherry and in a drive to the judge it was the progeny of Motivator who prevailed by .5L.

Successful owner Orla McKevitt was represented on the day by her father Frank and he said of the Castletown Geoghegan maiden winner “He is a grand, tough, honest horse and sure ‘twas the jump at the last that won it, he will go for another winners’ race now”.

Frank McKevitt himself told me he was a Roscommon man originally and was eighty-eight years old, and seventy-one years ago this year he won an All-Ireland Minor medal with Roscommon in football.

NEXT WEEKEND....

Point to point action next weekend takes place at Lismore and they are unveiling a new track located just 500 yards from their old one on the Castle Estate so why not come along and enjoy a great day’s sport!