Title race going to the wire

The run in for the leading point-to-point riders award is really starting to hot up between defending champion Barry O’Neill along with Rob James and this quest to be crowned champion certainly added another dimension to Monday last’s Muskerry Hunt meet.

Between them O’Neill and James won five of the eight races ran, to leave Rob James two wins in front on the thirty seven winner mark to Barry O’Neill's thirty five. However, on the day Rob James picked up a one day suspension for a whip offence which could prove costly before the season ends in three weeks’ time.

The two first races on the card, the 4yr old maiden along with the 5yr old maiden were divided with each rider landing a division of both.

Barry O’Neill drew first blood by landing the first split of the 4yr old geldings’ maiden on board the Colin Bowe trained Walks In June, who was a big market drifter out to 11/2 from 2/1.

In this nine runner contest punters latched onto the John Barry ridden Minella Moon Shine (3-5/4), however, the son of Sea The Moon was upsides when banking the fourth last and he crashed out, his demise left Barry O’Neill in front on board Walks In June and from here the Tattersalls foal sale purchase showed all the right battling qualities. The issue was sealed with a superb leap at the last by the Walk In The Park progeny and he ultimately went on to eclipse the Jack Hendrick ridden A Perfect Day 2-4) by a widening 4L.

"He is a lovely horse,” said a delighted Colin Bowe. “He is a bit weak still and with a summer’s break he will turn inside out. I will talk to his owner Kieran Shields and see where we go from here but I would imagine he will be sold".

Speaking to the owner Kieran Shields from Co Down, he told me this is the fourth horse he has had with Colin Bowe and all have won first time out.

Division two saw Rob James don two hats as he not alone rode the winner but he also trained the winner.

James had the progeny of Sea Moon, Moon Over America (2-5) to the fore from the outset and in a contest that was run at a very level tempo throughout it was still Moon Over America who led as they met the rising ground on the climb to the third last. However, he looked a sitting duck as the well backed Parkatthetheatre, (3-6/4) under Jamie Scallan, loomed large in the Monbeg colours. Over the next two obstacles the duo were locked together but a slicker jump at the last sealed the issue for Rob James and the close relation to grade three winning hurdler Academy Sir Harry, Moon Over America and, under a strong drive to the judges trailer, it was victory to Moon Over America who prevailed by 1L.

Speaking to Rob James he said of the winner whom he shares with Jim and Mary Cousins, “He is a smashing horse, bit green when he got into a battle but he was fair tough there now, all his homework had been very good and I fancied him to run real well here today, he will go for a sale next".

The first division of the 5yr old geldings’ maiden saw Barry O’Neill and Colin Bowe team up to land this, with the twice previously placed Harrenhal (ev-3-5/2) with the son of Doyen running out a length and three quarters winner.

The €35k Land Rover sale purchase was in the van throughout under O’Neill but after the fourth last of the fifteen jumped in total he got shuffled back somewhat and briefly looked in trouble. However O’Neill quickly had him back at the head of affairs by virtue of a quick leap three out and once back in front he was not for passing, showing all the right battling qualities to eclipse the Finny Maguire ridden Sheer Joy (2-5) by one and three parts of a length.

"He has been very consistent and deserved his day,” said successful trainer Colin Bowe. “He really appreciated that better ground and if he is not sold he will go for a winners’ race next".

Rob James went on to complete his and trainer Colin Bowes trebles as the pairing combined to "dead heat” in the 5yr old and upwards mares’ maiden with the Liam Casey trained John Barry ridden Dawn Escape (3-6).

Rob James looked nailed on for third spot between the last two fences on board Simple Times (2-4) as they trailed Dawn Escape and the Barry O’Neill ridden Geordie Girl (2-4) by 2L or so. The front pairing took the last as one but on touching down Geordie Girl crashed out and this may have caused Dawn Escape to take her eye off proceedings a little, because all of a sudden Rob James was closing on board the daughter of Sholokhov. In a drive to the line it was impossible to call it, with the pairing flashing across the line locked together.

After a few minutes a "dead heat” was called which to the naked eye seemed the fairest result. Of his winner Colin Bowe said “She is a grand mare and she loved that bit of nice ground, she is sales bound now after that".

Clonmel trainer Liam Casey said of his Imperial Monarch progeny: “That was a fair result, I am delighted now, she had a great run in Curraghmore and she built on that, I have no plan for her after today as today was the plan. I actually bought this lady off of John Barry’s mother-in-law (Janet Riordan) as a foal, I actually bought two on the day but the other one has not run yet, she has a right old pedigree which traces back to Dawn Run, so fingers crossed for the future".

The battle for the Novice riders title is also going down to the wire with both Dara McGill and Shane Cotter both on the twelve winner mark for the season to date.

McGill had gone one ahead by virtue of a winner at Stowlin twenty four hours earlier, but Britway native Shane Cotter tied it up again by landing the concluding 6yr old and upwards geldings’ maiden with 6/1 shot Manowest from the Denis Murphy yard.

The complexion of this race changed somewhat four out as the quietly supported Forever Asking (2-5-7/2) unseated Rob James and by the time they reached the third last a loose horse had hampered our 6/4 jolly Keeptheoldmanout. At this and Shane Cotter produced the eventual winner with impeccable timing and from here the 6yr old son of Mahler repelled all challengers, ultimately going on to eclipse Dun Ar Aill (4-6) and Luke Burke Ott by 1.5L.

The 12K Tattersalls sales purchase is owned and trained by Denis Murphy at his Ballyboy stables and is from the same family as listed six furlong winner Queen Astrid. Of the winner Murphy said: "Ah look he is now six and is still very green, but he has loads of ability and will improve, just to give him a bit more experience we will aim for a winners’ race next".

Carlow trainer Willie Murphy had a very welcome change in fortune as his Crageen, under Pa King, ran out a very impressive 11L winner of our winners of two contest.

The 8yr old progeny of Morozov, a Dromahane maiden winner from two years ago, was locked in battle here and looked to be just about winning the battle going to the wings of the last with the Barry O’Neill ridden Wallace Ollinger (6/4-3-5/2). However, the jolly crashed out here leaving the Leo and Mary Doyle bred and owned Crageen come home 11L clear of the never nearer The Brickey Ranger (2-3), the mount of David Kiely.

"I am so relieved to get that winner,” said trainer Willie Murphy. “That is just the second horse of mine to complete a race in two months. They were all wrong and I have discovered I had a problem with my straw, so hopefully now we may have turned a corner. I am thrilled for Mary and Leo, they are salt of the earth people and true point-to-point people and take the bad news and the good news in much the same manner. This horse is no bad horse and I may go for another winners’ race or take in a hunters’ chase before the season ends".

There was a good old fashioned touch landed in the adjacent hunt maiden for which eight went to post, with victory here going to the Alexander Ott trained Foxy Mick who was dispatched a solid 2/1 shot from 6/1 and was partnered by Alex Ott’s son Luke for whom this was a second points winner in his fledgling career to date.

The complexion of this contest changed as early as the third fence as the quietly fancied Delta Melody (2-7/2-5/2) took a heavy fall at this, resulting in Maxine O’Sullivan being removed to hospital. As the contest developed the early favourite Corbally Cross (4/6-3) was still traveling well rounding the bend before what was now the bypassed third last and he appeared to lose his back legs for a stride and as a result sent Darragh Allen out the side door. Up front and Doitforjane (4-7), under Cal Shine, was joined and headed by the eventual winner Foxy Mick. From here the 5yr old son of Elusive Emir opened up by 2 to 3L or so, however, from the back of the last he appeared to get lonely in front as Doitforjane came again, but The line came too soon as Foxy Mick held on grimly by a neck.

This was trainer Alex Ott’s fourth winner of the current campaign and of this lad he said: “I bought this lad as a foal and I’d say he is the only thoroughbred horse in the country by the sire, but he comes from a very good old fashioned family that traces back to Greenfield Noel, who won plenty races for Mick Winters. We will give this fellow a spin next in a winners’ race".

ONE TO FOLLOW... SLANEY WALK (SEAN DOYLE)

This 6yr old daughter of Soldier Of Fortune only made her debut in mid-April, finishing a credible third and at Dawstown on Monday she looked a beaten docket with over a mile to race. However, she kept at it and actually saw out the race well to finish fourth, beaten just 8L, granted nominal improvement and maybe a stiffer track she looks one to keep onside.

NEXT WEEKEND...

On Saturday next the Mid Antrim Harriers race at Toomebridge with the first off at 2pm. On Sunday there are two fixtures with the rearranged Galway Blazers meet going ahead at Dartfield horse museum just outside Loughrea, with the first off there at 1pm.

On the local Cork and Waterford circuit all roads lead to Hightown, Bartlemy where the local United Hunt meet goes ahead with a 1pm start.