Flemen Good Stuff...

Following on from his victory at Quakerstown just seven days ago with his Blackwater Soldier, Rathcormac trainer David Barry was again amongst the winners at Sunday last’s well supported Doneraile Hunt point-to-point staged at Dromahane.

At the North Cork venue his well-supported Flemens Intrest (3-5-7/2) under a power packed Darragh Allen drive came a second time from the back of the last to get up by a short head and duly land the 6yr old and upwards maiden for which fifteen went to post, and in taking this moved the Araglen rider onto the twelve winner mark for the season to date.

The successful progeny of Flemensfirth raced prominently throughout under Darragh Allen and came with a wet sail to briefly hit the front before two before being joined and headed by the eventual runner up River Vale (2-3) and Chris O’Donovan. Jumping the last and River Vale looked to have just about taken the measure of Flemens Intrest, but on the long run in the brave 7yr old on just his second start came again and just got back up in the shadows of the post to score by a short head with a gap of 12L back to the market drifter God Help Us (6/4-3), the mount of Mikey O’Connor.

The winner is owned and bred by fellow Rathcormac man John Cotter and of the winner successful trainer David Barry remarked “This lad had a grand first run at Rathcannon and he stepped forward nicely from that, he will go for a winners race next,” concluded the four horse trainer.

There were some great scenes in the parade ring after Mistymal justified some strong market support into 6/4 (from 9/4) to duly land the 5yr old and upwards maiden for Dungourney trainer Alan Ahern and Conna jockey John Barry. In fact this crowned off a good week for the pairing as they combined to take the point to point bumper at Mallow on the Monday prior with Flemensface.

There were nine declared runners in this and the winning pot was a generous €2,725 to the winner, of which €1,500 was sponsored by INHS committee and was confined to trainers who had trained ten or less point to point winners in the previous 25 years.

The recent Inch fourth Mistymal was committed for home shortly after the fourth last by John Barry but he was kept honest right to the death by the Tom Feeney partnered debutante Wet the Shamrock (5-10) with ultimately just 2L separating the pairing at the death, with a yawning gap of 15L back to the third placed Pas Peur De Toi (2-7/2).

Owned by the winning trainers sister in law Norah the progeny of Malinas a home bred “Will be offered for sale next” quipped Alan Ahern. He continued “Look he is a grand horse and the last day at Inch he did not handle the old tight track and was more suited by the galloping track here”.

Enniscorthy, Co Wexford trainer Mick Goff has a great strike rate around Dromahane and he duly saddled the winners of the 4yr old geldings maiden along with the 5yr old geldings maiden both of whom were partnered by Mikey Sweeney.

Twelve contested the 4yr old geldings maiden and the best for money here was the Declan Queally trained Ghost Hunter who attracted plenty of support from 6/4 into 8/11 before drifting again to a solid even money shot at the off with the son of Milan partnered here by Chris O’Donovan.

His supporters were on good terms with themselves as he turned into the home straight with a 2L advantage over the remainder headed by the eventual winner Fortunate Man (3-4-3) the mount of Mikey Sweeney. Sweeney joined the issue at the head of affairs two out but on the level after this the son of Soldier Of Fortune was holding all the aces and went on to eclipse the long-time leader Ghost Hunter by 2L. However this pairing pulled some 12L clear of the third placed Professor Klump (2-4).

“This is a very good horse,” commented Mick Goff. “I will tell ya know that he is part owned by a Co Limerick native Pat McCarthy and Pat gave 50K for this lad as a foal, he came to me to train him for a share and here we are now job done. This horse has been exceptional from day one and he will improve away again off the back of this, he will be offered at an upcoming sale”.

Half an hour later and Goff and Sweeney were back in the winners enclosure as the October Kinsale runner up Double Digits (2-4-2) ran out a game 1L winner of the 5yr old geldings maiden.

Sweeney was content to hunt the successful son of Mastercraftsman around in mid-division for most of the contest before creeping into contention, touching down out over the second last. At this and the Darragh Allen ridden Minella Rescue (3-5) held a slender advantage, there was little to choose between the pair at the last but on the level it was the Wexford raider Double Digits who found the greater resolve to go on and eclipse the staying on Primoz (2-4) and Derek O’Connor with the game Minella Rescue just a neck back in third.

“I gave 30K for this lad as a foal,” said successful trainer Mick Goff. “He is a right horse, to be honest I thought he would have won first time out as a 4yr old but he was second, beaten fair and square, but came back that day with muscles pulled in his back so we gave him time. He is still a big weak immature horse but I think he has a real future ahead of him, he will go to a sale. I’m delighted to get the two results here today as some of mine were running poor and I made the decision to switch yards from home to Clonegall and it seems to have done the trick. I have taken sixteen stables there so fingers crossed going forward”.

The Declan Queally trained Rocky’s Howya had no more than an exercise canter in taking the four runner novice riders Open Lightweight and in taking this was recording his seventh points victory of the current season and now sits one clear of La Feline at the top of the leading horse table.

Partnered by Alan O’Sullivan the 7yr old Rocky’s Howya led from the outset and never gave his odds on supporters an anxious moment. The Sarah McNamara ridden Dashing Perk got to within 2L two out but with one shake of the reins the ¼ shot moved up another gear and with a spring heeled leap at the last went onto score in stylish fashion by 9L over Dashing Perk.

“Ah sure look he was good there and didn’t know he had a race,” said Declan Queally (jnr). “His owners Margaret and David Kiely would love to see him be crowned champion pointer and looking at the upcoming weeks ahead I have a plan in my head for him and realistically he may come back here again next weekend”.

The opening 4yr old mares maiden went the way of the Paul Pierse trained Bellas Bridge and was partnered by Sean Staples.

Staples produced the daughter of Telescope ,a 10K Ascot sale purchase to challenge another Wexford raider True Testimony (4-7) and Barry Stone going to the wings of the last, both took this well and on the long run in it was Bellas Bridge who dug deepest to prevail by ¾ L. This pair pulled 18L clear of the third One Night Standard (6/4-3).

“I thought we were in trouble going to the last,” said Enniscorthy man Andy Pierse representing his trainer brother Paul. “This is our best horse in the yard and I couldn’t see her beat coming here today, to be fair to Sean (Staples) he had the choice of our one or the runner up so I am glad it worked out for him, look she will be offered for sale now after that”.

ONE TO FOLLOW.... TWO OUT OF THREE (ANTHONY COSTELLO)

This 5yr old progeny of Telescope made his debut here for the Costellos and ran a credible race to finish fourth, beaten about 8L, this despite some novicey old jumping and looks nailed on to land a maiden before season ends granted nominal improvement.

NEXT WEEKEND....

Due to operational reasons the Tralee meeting and the Fairyhouse meeting now both go ahead on Friday, April 21st at 2pm and 2.30pm respectively.

The Killeadys race at Dromahane on Sunday next with the first off at 2pm, whilst the Bree Hunt stage a meet (Sunday) at Monksgrange where they go to post at 2pm also. Also on Sunday the Meath and Tara’s race at Fairyhouse with the first off there at 2.30pm.