Loving The Blues...

The second last weekend of the current point-to-point season saw all roads lead to Ballindenisk, Watergrasshill, where the local United Hunt played host.

Due to the large entry received (187) the committee made the decision to bring the start time forward to 1pm rather than the original 2pm, this move was to facilitate a potential number of divided races on the day, and it proved to be a wise move as we ended up with no less than nine races on the day, and fair play to all concerned to have proceedings wound up by 17.30pm.

One of the biggest cheers of the day was reserved for the Eamonn Gallagher trained Blue In The West (4-8-6) who in the hands of Mikey O’Connor ran out a very easy winner of the confined maiden sporting the colours of Melfordstown, Bartlemy owner/ breeder Padraig Barry.

This full brother to three-time winning bumper horse Supremely West was always in the van throughout under Mikey O’Connor and when the Liscarroll native gave the son of Westener the hurry up after the second last it was game over and with a slick leap at the last, he went on to score in emphatic style by 4L from Sense The Tension (3-5) the mount of Eric Mellerick.

“That was mighty,” said successful trainer and Conna native Eamonn Gallagher. He continued “Sure he had a great debut run here when third and then ran two cracking point to point bumper races at Mallow and Tipperary, he is not over big but is a very good horse and fair play to Mikey he kept it simple with him. This is the first horse I have had for the owner so it is great, I will talk with Padraig there now and see where we go from here”.

On a day when Cork/Waterford-trained winners were scarce it was the Andy Burke Ott trained/ ridden Dear Ryta (4-10) who kept the flag flying as the Boherbue lad booted home the winner of the first split of the 5yr old and upwards mares’ maiden for which twelve went to post.

To be fair victory did not look likely for the 5yr old daughter of Sholokhov as she trailed the longtime-leader Lackaneen Mag (3-5) by 2L going to the wings of the last of the twelve fences jumped in total. Both mares took this well but it was the eventual winner who landed with the more momentum and on the level, she powered home getting up late on to score by 1L over the gallant runner up Lackaneen Mag.

The winner who is owned/ bred by Ballinhassig man Eamonn Grainger was having just her third start here and of the winner successful rider/trainer Andy Burke Ott said “She is a smashing mare, the first day she ran she was very green and then at Liscarroll the ground was all wrong for her, but she really appreciated that nice ground there today, and fair play to her, she showed a lovely turn of foot after the last”. This winner now gives the nineteen-year-old Burke Ott his sixth points winner in his career to date as well as having two wins on the track.

“She is consistent and has got her day,” said trainer Colin Bowe after his Friars Island Lady lasted home to score by a neck in the first division of the mares’ maiden.

The daughter of Doyen was sent for home after two out by 5lb claimer Bertie Finn, however she had to put her vast experience to good use to eclipse the late flourish of the Turlough O’Connor partnered debutante Sister Marguerite (5-10), but at the eight time of asking it was Friars Island Lady who held on grimly to score by a neck.

“She is owned and was bred by Roscommon man Paul Gibbons, I am not sure what he wants to do now with her,” said Enniscorthy native Colin Bowe.

It was actually red-letter day for nineteen-year-old Bertie Finn as he recorded his career first treble by landing both divisions of the 5 and 6yr old geldings’ maiden with both of these winners also trained by Colin Bowe.

The recent Tinahely third Ideal

De Romay (4-6) was committed for home after the third last by his young rider and this move proved decisive as he galloped right to the death to eclipse the well supported Lord Desart (3-2) the mount of John Barry and despite Barry’s best urgings he was still 3L adrift at the death.

“He ran no race in Dawstown where he pulled up,” said trainer Colin Bowe. “He is a smart type who will head to Doncaster for the sale next”.

Half an hour later and Bowe and Finn were again back in the winner’s enclosure as the easy to back 8/1 shot Glen’s Sensation scooted home by 3L. The winner kicked on for home on the climb to two out and from here the progeny of Mount Nelson was holding all the aces scoring by 3L from the staying on Oscars Brother (4-7) the mount of John Barry.

“That is my first winner for the owner/breeder (Fiona McStay, Co Down),” said trainer Colin Bowe. “He is still a bit weak and needed a bit of time but in saying that he did it well, he will head now to Doncaster to the sales. Full credit to Bertie Finn, he gave those three horses grand spins there today, he is from Monageer, not far from myself and I am lucky to have him on a full-time basis”.

The winner here is out of twelve-time track winning mare Glens Melody who raced for Willie Mullins and is owned by Fiona McStay also, a cracking mare who last raced at the Cheltenham festival in 2015 when landing the mares’ hurdle by a head under Paul Townend.

There was a spectacular gamble here on the Declan Queally trained Upton Fox with the British bred finding support into 5/4 (from 5/1), however after jumping fence five he developed steering problems and literally ran off the track. Rider Chris O’Donovan did manage to get him back in and he continued in the contest to eventually finish sixth.

The battle for the Champion point to point horse has really heated up and on Sunday the Declan Queally trained Rockys Howya (ev6/4-11/10) under Chris O’Donovan duly landed the eight runner Open Lightweight with the minimum of fuss and now sits on the eight-winner mark with the David Christie trained Bold Enough, they will both hold entries at Ballingarry next weekend where that particular title will be decided.

Back to Sunday last, this was by no means a penalty kick for Rockys Howya as the 7yr old progeny of Ask was faced with recent Champion Hunter Chase winner It’s On the Line (4/6-6/4) the mount of Maxine O’Sullivan.

Act In Time (6-12) and Alannah Budds took them along for the most part of this contest and it was not until they reappeared from behind the trees after the third last that O’Donovan had hit the front with Rockys Howya with the eventual winner being stalked by both Stranger Danger (3-5), Ross Berry with the other joint favourite It’s On The Line also near enough if good enough.

Meeting the rising ground to the second last and Rockys Howya was not for stopping, and at this stage It’s On The Line had moved into a clear second spot but try as the Champion Hunter chaser might, he could not land a telling blow on the David and Margaret Kiely owned Rockys Howya with 4L ultimately separating them at the judges trailer.

The meteoric rise of the winner is incredible, having started the season as a maiden he has now won eight points from nine starts, from here successful trainer Declan Queally takes it up, “The three weeks break really helped him, he needed it to be honest. He will get an entry next weekend at Ballingarry but we will need a sup of rain to have safe ground, so fingers crossed”.

As is stands at eight wins apiece they are tied on top both Bold Enough and Rockys Howya, however on countback Rockys Howya with the second-place finish in Dromahane would be deemed champion, because Christie’s horse has run in and won eight with no placed effort to his credit.

Chris O’Donovan did depart the meet with a double on the day as the Shanballymore man teamed up with Tom Keating to land the second division of the opening 4yr old maiden.

The 25K Derby Sale graduate Castle Ivers (3-4) was bounced out in front by O’Donovan from the outset with the son of Malinas giving a display of fencing from the front.

In a contest that was run at a strong enough gallop the eventual winner had many of these in trouble turning in to face up to the second last, the uneasy market principal Little Big Kev (2-7/2) under Rob James did close to within a length or so between the last two obstacles, however O’Donovan had kept a little in reserve and quickened away in good style, duly winged the last and galloped right through the line to score emphatically by 4L.

“This lad came out of the Derby Sale,” said Clonmel based trainer Tom Keating. “He is a smashing horse and has plenty toe, if he is not sold privately, he will go to an upcoming sale”.

The first split of the opening 4yr old geldings maiden saw the ten bookmakers present get a result as the well backed newcomer from the Donnchadh Doyle yard got turned over in the shape of Catalani (4-9/4). Partnered by Rob James the progeny of Lauro Catalani had just about taken the measure of the Mick Goff runner Job (3-5) after he second last. Despite showing signs of greenness, Catalani was a neck up at the last when his nearest challenger Job erred here with Mikey Sweeney making a remarkable recovery to stay on board. On the level and from out of the clouds the Derek O’Connor partnered Western Harmony (4-8) powered home, getting up late on to score by 1.5L from another late and fast finisher Village Master (3-6), Shane O’Rourke the likely winner at the last Catalani kept on for third just ½ L back with the luckless Job fourth only a short head in arrears.

Cashel based trainer Sam Curling was on hand to greet his winner and of him he said “The last day at Dromahane he got cannoned into and left at the start somewhat so Derek just schooled him around, sure his chance was gone before the first that day. This is a good horse with a great attitude who can jump and stay, he came out of the Derby Sale costing 35K and he will go back to a sale now”.

Racing concluded with the five runner winners of two contest and victory here went to the Darragh Allen ridden Golden de Coeur (2-4) from the Richard Black yard.

In front from the outset the French bred was some 15L or so clear at one point but this lead was slowly whittled down by the two market principals with about half a mile to race. Turning in and Golden de Coeur still held sway but looked a sitting duck to the Byron Tully partnered Step Up Son (6/4-stdy) with the niggled along Bourbon N Kentucky (ev-6/4) also there and bidding to give Bertie Finn a four timer on the day. Step Up Son raised the white flag on the climb to two out and faded quickly out of contention, Bourbon N Kentucky began to close and by the time they took off at the last he was just showing about a neck in front. But on the level after the last and not for the first time the likely result changed on the run in with Darragh Allen getting the game Golden De Coeur back up late on to score in game fashion by .75L from the equally game Bourbon N Kentucky.

Trainer Richard Black was on hand to greet his winner but it was owner Edgar Allen (no relation of Darragh) from Bunclody who did the talking and of the winner he said “Fair play to Darragh he gave him a grand spin and got a breather into him everywhere, I know he is seven but he is improving all the time and will go to Doncaster now to a sale”.

ONE TO FOLLOW...SWIFT JET (NICKY STOKES)

This 5yr old progeny of Jet Away made his debut here and he ran a race rich in promise to finish fourth beaten less than 11L and was noted doing his best work at the death having looked a little caught for pace turning in, and looks one for the autumn.

SOUTHERN RIDERS CHAMPIONSHIP...

The contest for the southern rider’s title is really hotting up with Chris O’Donovan leading the way on the seventeen-winner mark, just one ahead of Derek O’Connor and two clear of John Barry and with three meets next weekend it really is all in the melting pot.

NEXT WEEKEND...

On Sunday it’s all systems go for Clonakilty on the Cork/Waterford circuit with the first off at Inchydoney at 2pm. There is a double header at Ballingarry on Saturday/ Sunday with the first off at the Ormond Hunt fixture at 2pm both days. Please keep an eye out though for time changes at all meets as a large entry is expected at both venues.