Adam's double delight...

Ballyduff Upper jockey Adam Feeney was the man to follow at Sunday last’s well supported Duhallow Foxhounds point-topoint staged at the ever popular Dromahane.

Feeney posted a second career double on the day and moved onto the three winner mark for the season to date as he landed the 4yr old mares’ maiden along with the open lightweight contest.

Just six mares contested the opening 4yr old mares’ maiden and the Pa King partnered Kap De Cerisy (5/4-7/4-ev) was widely expected to take this in the colours of her trainer Pat Doyle.

Supporters of the Tipperary raider were on good terms with themselves as the French bred, Kapgarde led into the home straight for the final time. Her nearest pursuer and eventual winner Myfriendcooper (4-8), under Adam Feeney, tried her case at both the third and second last obstacles but slow jumps at both of these saw the daughter of Valirann concede ground to the jolly. However, the winner is nothing if not tough and she responded gamely to Feeney’s urgings to touch down the marginal leader over the last and on the long run in she was always holding the jolly, with three parts of a length separating them at the death.

The winner is trained by Robbie Clancy at his home base in Sixmilebridge in Co Clare and of this, his first training success of the season he said: "She is a fair mare, easy to train and loads of ability, Adam was very good on her, I own her myself, I actually bought her off a neighbour, John Killeen, so it is a great day all around, look she is for sale so hopefully now she will move on".

Adam Feeney completed his brace on board the leading mare of the current points season in the form of Millie B, who ran out a very game winner of a competitive open lightweight and in taking this the John O’Leary (Clonmel) owned daughter of Workforce was scoring for the fourth time of asking.

Recent Lisronagh scorer Prophets Corner (2-3), under regular rider Darragh Allen, took the field along at a good solid tempo throughout and the son of Westener led into the home straight for the last time with three to jump. At the first of these Adam Feeney produced the eventual winner to hit the front and from here the mare was not to be denied staying on in resolute fashion going on to eclipse Wise Move (2-3) and Joanna Walton by 1.5L.

Successful trainer Tom Keating was on hand to greet his winner and of her the Clonmel based trainer said: "Look the GAIN at Ballynoe was to be her Gold Cup, she would have relished the hill up the far side there, but alas it was not to be. Look she is tough out, loved the ground and kept at it well, I must have a look at that meet in the Junction and see what is there for her".

It was a memorable twenty four hours for the trainer/jockey combination of Sam Curling and Derek O’Connor, as fresh from their 4yr old victory in Ballycrystal they continued the run here with the debutante Life Goes On (2-3-2) who scored readily by 11/4L in the first division of the 4yr old geldings’ maiden for which twelve went to post.

The son of Malinas always drew the eye in running and when he hit the front on the level after the second last he was always going to collect. He took the last well, under O’Connor and despite showing obvious signs of greenness he was always containing the effort of the runner-up The Blue Room (3-64) and John Barry, with the big eye catcher being the staying on third placed Only Way Is Up (4-8), the mount of Darragh Higgins, who was a further 4L back in third.

"That was mighty," said trainer Sam Curling and he shares this fellow in ownership with Aidan Scobie Fitzgerald. "He is a proper horse from the same family as Yanworth, we bought him off Franny Woods (€12k) and he will go back to a sale after that".

Trainer Mark Scallan and jockey Tiernan Power Roche combined for a double on the day and they got off the mark with Captains Speech (3-6) who sluiced up by 5.5L in the second split of the 4yr old geldings’ maiden.

In what was a very true run contest, the eventual winner assumed control at the head of affairs shortly before the third last of thirteen obstacles jumped and despite a jumping error two out the son of El Salvador had plenty in reserves, going onto eclipse the Derek O’Connor ridden Giantsgrave (2-3) with 5.5L between them at the death.

"This lad came out of the Land Rover sale and is owned by Denis Hayes. With this being the first horse I had for him thankfully that has worked out well," said successful trainer Mark Scallan. He continued "He is a proper horse with loads of ability and I would imagine he will be sold on now after that. That is my third winner of the season to date and hopefully we can add to it before the season is out".

The successful Scallan and Power Roche combination were back in the winners’ enclosure as their Always A Reason (2-5-4) ran out a 4L victor of the 5yr old geldings' maiden.

Victory did not look likely for the son of Elusive Pimpernel four out as a mistake here saw him drop some 6L off the leading pack of five or six. At the head of affairs turning in Darragh Allen held sway on board He’s A Diamond (4-6-4) and he was quickly joined by the Johnny Hurley ridden How’s The Head (2-3) with the gamble of the contest Vanderpoel (3-5/4-2-6/4), under Derek O’Connor, dropping off the leaders and pulling up (possibly lame). As the contest unfolded He’s A Diamond led to the wings of the last but an untidy leap here did not help his cause whilst on the outer the eventual winner Always A Reason was staying on strongly. In the final hundred yards or so the twice previously placed Wexford raider began to assert and duly went onto score a shade snugly by 4L from He’s A Diamond who ran a cracker in second and held the third placed The Doctors Monkey (5-8), the mount of Turlough O’Connor, by a head.

"After the mistake four out I thought we were beaten," said Mark Scallan. "But he stayed at it well and Tiernan said he always thought he was going to get there over the last three fences, he loved the ground and that played to his strength. I own half of this lad with Michael Cullen, Mike is a bit under the weather at present and was unable to travel here today but this will give him a big lift. I will talk to Michael but he is for sale".

"She is one of the best mares I ever put through my hands," said trainer Sean Doyle after his Dawn Miss (5/2-4/5) absolutely routed her six rivals in the 5 and 6yr old mares’ maiden.

Partnered by Jamie Scallan, the 5yr old daughter of Malinas tipped up the last day at Monksgrange but she had no such problems here, assuming control at the head of affairs on the level after four out and from this position she drew right away, scoring effortlessly by 12L from Highbourne Velvet (11/103), the mount of John Barry.

"She is special," said Sean Doyle. "I think this mare can go right to the top, she is very uncomplicated, she is a full sister to Booster Bob, myself and Tom Keating own her, we bought her off Hugh Bleahan and she will be sold now after that".

Racing concluded with the adjacent hunt maiden and victory here went to the Joe Sheehan owned Eugene O’Sullivan trained Master of the Sums, who justified odds on favouritism at 4/7 (from 6/4).

Maxine O’Sullivan did the steering on board the 5yr old progeny of

Black Sam Bellamy and she waited until three out before making the decisive move. Once in front it was all over bar a fall as the pairing stormed home 23L clear of Lorna Yeats (3-5) and Michael O’Connor.

The winner was owned by Liam Sheehan, who was a stalwart of the Ballindenisk point to point but Liam passed away suddenly and his brother Joe is now heading up a family syndicate who own the horse. Speaking to Eugene O’Sullivan of the winner he had this to say: "Look he is better than adjacent hunt standard but I was just hoping to get a win into him, give the horse a bit of confidence, he did that well on ground he would hate, I will talk to the family and see where we go from here, but he is not for sale".

ONE TO FOLLOW... TADHG’S ROCK (TERENCE O’BRIEN)

This 4yr old progeny of Berkshire made his debut here and he ran a race rich in promise, finishing fifth or sixth having been bang in contention going to the wings of the last and only faded somewhat in the final hundred yards or so. Granted nominal improvement he looks one to keep onside.

NEXT WEEKEND...

On Saturday the rearranged Curraghmore fixture is due to go ahead with the first due off at Curraghmore estate at 2pm. Up North on Saturday the East Antrims race at Loughanmore with the first going to post there at 2pm also. On Sunday the Ballymacads race at Oldcastle with the first off there at 2pm also. On the local circuit on Sunday it is all roads lead to Dromahane where the fiftieth anniversary meet of the Doneraile Harriers meet goes ahead with the white flag raised there at 2pm also.