Local winners to the fore at Ballingarry Point to Point

HORSE RACING: Ormond Hunt Point to Point

By Michael Duggan

The annual two-day Ormond Hunt fixture returned last weekend when point-to-point racing again took place on the Cahalan family lands at Ballingarry.

Brought forward from its traditional June Bank Holiday date, the meeting was a big success with good crowds turning out both days to witness top class racing.

Saturday

Fethard trainer Harry Kelly has a nice prospect on his hands in R S One who made a winning debut in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Sent off a 5/1 shot, this youngster by Malinas swept to the head off affairs after two out under Waterford jockey James Hannon. Turning into the home straight, R S One had opened up a sizeable advantage and only had to be kept up to his work in the closing stages to deny the Derek O’Connor-partnered West Clare by three lengths.

This was a smart effort from the winner, who took control of the 15-runner contest when showing a tasty turn of foot off the final bend.

The victorious owner/trainer revealed: “We always liked this horse and we were waiting for a bit of nice ground so he could be seen at his best. James was very good on him.

“We’ll probably sell him now, but to be honest I’d have no hesitation in the world in going for a bumper with him. I think he’s very good.”

Jockey Hannon went on to complete a double when teaming up fellow Waterford man Paul Kiely to land the concluding winners’ race aboard even-money favourite The Galahad Kid.

Asked to get competitive before the home turn, the Rachel Murphy-owned son of Quest For Peace - who shed his maiden tag at Dromahan twenty days earlier - ran out a cosy three-length winner over second-placed Chato Santana.

“He was always a promising horse and it’s nice he’s made it two-in-a-row. James (Hannon) was very sweet on him today and he thought it would take a smart one to beat him. We’ll hopefully get to sell him now.”

Wexford trainer, Colin Bowe, is having a tremendous season and the multiple champion was on the mark when his newcomer Atlanta Brave (5/4 favourite) ran out a brave winner of the four-year-old auction maiden.

Barry O’Neill did the steering aboard the son of Alzavoski, who came out the right side of a protracted duel in the closing stages to deny eventual runner-up Comemylittleson by a head.

Winning trainer Bowe remarked: “He’s a lovely, big genuine horse with plenty of improvement left to come. Barry gave him a brilliant ride and it was very tight in the end. This horse will go one of the upcoming sales now.”

Ten faced the starter in the five-year-old mares’ maiden with victory going to Cork raider Gata Ban.

Trained in Carrogtwohill by Noel O’Neill for joint-owners David Rice and Cian Flemimg, the Getaway-sired 11/2 shot went to the front after three out and answered every call from her rider Darragh Allen to see off Flyingatfifty by two-and-a-half-lengths.

“This mare had a lovely run when fourth the last day in Dawstown and we fancied her coming here today,” divulged the winning trainer O’Neill.

“She’s only had three runs and we think a lot of her. One of her owners (David Rice) rides her out at home and I’m delighted she’s won for them. She’ll be sold after today’s display.”

The opening four-year-old mares’ maiden was a competitive affair with 5/1 shot, On Se Calme, emerging victorious for Wexford trainer Cormac Doyle.

In-form Harley Dunne took the reins aboard this daughter of No Risk At All who made every post a winning one when making all the running to beat Sheeka Supreme by two lengths. The winner had made an encouraging debut when fifth in Lisronagh at the end of February.

The successful trainer said: “This is a very nice mare. We opted to use her bit of experience and it worked out well. Harley gave her a lovely front-running ride.

“I’d say she appreciated the bit of nice ground too. She has plenty of gears and could very well go back in trip if necessary. She’ll go to the Tattersalls Sale in Newmarket now.”

It’s a long trek from Larne in County Antrim to the Premier County but the journey home was shorter for trainer Stewart Crawford following the success of his Stephen Connor-ridden Stamp Your Feet (6/4) in the open lightweight.

Successful in a similar event at Largy last month, the ten-year-old followed up here in battling style when coming from off the pace to deny All Hell Let Loose by a neck.

“He did well and won a shade cosily in the end,” stated Crawford.

“Ideally, he prefer a bit more of an ease in ground. We’ve a Hunter’s Chase at either Listowel or Cartmel in mind for him. He’ll get a break after that.”

Sunday

Sunday’s fixture proved a red-letter day for 19-year-old Borrisoleigh jockey Josh Younge who rode his first winner aboard the nicely-supported Spy Lady (6/1-4/1) in the six-year-old mares’ maiden.

Now in training with Michelle Gannon at her Johnstown, Co. Kilkenny yard having had one previous outing for Cork trainer Robert Tyner, this daughter of Shirocco edged to the front at halfway. Travelling strongly, she showed no sign of rustiness following a 568-day lay-off when staying on strongly to deny runner-up Chitchat Sally by four lengths.

A jubilant Younge reported: “I’m with John Ryan every day and I go into Shane Duffy’s in the afternoon then. I spent four seasons with Sam Curling before that.

“John trains very close to me at home and he’s been a great supporter of mine, giving me rides on the track and all. It’s great to make the breakthrough before the end of the season.”

Ms Gannon added: “We bought her out of Robert Tyner’s and she’s a good, honest mare. It’s great for her owner, Mary Murphy from Dublin. She did it well and has a nice turn of foot. She could be capable of winning a bumper.”

Clonmel-based handler, Liam Casey, was on the mark when his 5/1 chance Rule Of June under a strong ride from jockey Alex Harvey, came out on top in a driving finish to the winners of three for novice riders.

Always prominent, this daughter of Rule Of June jumped very well and dug deep on the run-in to beat Ciaran Fennessy’s Fiery Brown by a head.

Casey, who trains the winner for his father Donal, said: “The lady is as game as pebble and always runs her race. She’s in flying form at the moment and Alex gave her a smashing ride.

“The winners of three at Tralee next weekend is an option if she comes out of today okay. We’ll probably kick on to the track over the summer with her too. She has a handicap mark and should be competitive.”

Draperstown, Co. Derry trainer Noel Kelly made the sizeable journey south worthwhile when sending out 6/4 favourite Wee Rupert to land the six-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Oran McGill’s mount would have to be considered a fortunate winner, however, as the front-running Eveningofsummer looked to have this race in the bag rising to the final fence. The leader made a shuddering blunder here, opening the door for Wee Rupert who surged past to beat eventual second Gouazec by three lengths. The luckless Eveningofsummer was a further two-and-a-half-lengths away in third.

“I’m delighted for his owners, the Temple Racing Partnership from Belfast, as it’s the first horse they’ve had with me. He’s a lovely type of horse with a grand future ahead of him. He thrived on the quicker ground and we’ll probably head onto the track for a bumper with him now.”

A small, but select field of three went to post in the open lightweight for Lady Riders with victory going to 5/4 favourite Special Prep.

Trained in Co. Wexford by Billy Codd, the 10-year-old, who was led up by his Codd’s son and former point-to-point champion jockey Jamie Codd, was quickly into his stride under jockey Georgie Benson. A couple of lengths in front squaring up to the final fence, the market leader was always doing enough and had four lengths to spare over the Hannah Phillips-ridden Dubai Dandy at the line.

Billy Codd stated: “We’re thrilled with that. He is owned by a close family-friend, Eric Elliott who had him in training with Pauline Robson in England.

“It’s nice to get a win with him over here and Georgie gave him a lovely ride. We’ll enjoy today victory before making any further plans.”

Front-running tactics also paid dividends in the concluding seven-year-old and upwards maiden as 5/2 joint-favourite Woodfield Symphony made virtually all the running under a canny ride from Barry Stone.

Village Arms was disputing the lead with Woodfield Symphony at the final fence when Tiernan Power-Roche’s mount fell leaving the Mahler-sired eight-year-old clear to score by four lengths from Stellar Symphony.

Rosemary Connors, who trains the winner at her Woodstown, County Waterford base for her partner Henry Carey, disclosed: “It’s a case of third time lucky with this mare. She had a few hold-ups as a young mare but thankfully she has come right back to herself now. She enjoys the quick ground and all being well we might run her on the track over the summer.”

The opening nine-runner four-year-old geldings’ maiden produced an exciting winner in the shape of Cormac Doyle’s 4/1 shot Wrestlingwithrae.

One of three newcomers in the field, this Luke Murphy-ridden €15,000 graduate of last year’s Land Rover Sale overcame signs of greeness in the closing stages to account for Colin Bowe’s Roger Pol by a length-and-a-half.

“He’s a nice horse that I bought from Kieran Lennon last year,” said Wexford-based Doyle, who was also on the scoresheet at this venue with On Se Calme the previous afternoon.

“This is a quick horse with a sharp turn of foot. He was very green in the closing stages but, in fairness, we haven’t much done with him. He’ll probably be sold at Tattersalls May Sale on Thursday.”