Quirke provides good fortune for Curling at Nenagh Point to Point

By Michael Duggan

A bumper crowd enjoyed an excellent day’s racing at last Sunday’s North Tipperary Foxhounds point-to-point fixture in Nenagh where local trainer, Sam Curling, took the Winners’ of One race with 5/1 shot War Call.

A poignant winner - the successful grey son of Martaline carries the colours of the DQ11 Syndicate in honour of the late Clonoulty-Rossmore and Tipperary hurler Dillon Quirke - War Call was ridden by Downpatrick, County Down jockey Toni Quail.

There was a huge amount of good fortune involved in this victory, however, as 2/1 joint-favourite Pray Tell held what looked an unassailable fifteen-length lead rising to the final fence. Unfortunately for him, Darragh Allen’s mount met this obstacle all wrong and crashed out, leaving Ms Quail and War Call to register a popular seventeen-length success over runner-up Mustameet Secret.

Winning jockey Ms Quail, who is attached to Curling’s Cashel yard, said: “You need a bit of luck some times and we got it today. Aside from the fact that he jumped to his right at times, he gave me a great spin.

“That’s my second winner for Sam this season. He’s a great man to work for and I cannot thank him enough for the opportunities he’s giving me.”

Winning trainer Curling added: “It’s nice to win, obviously we had luck on our side but that’s how it goes. Toni gave him a great ride, she’s a hard worker a valuable member of our team.

“War Call is a grand fun horse. He’d prefer going right-handed, but we like to have runners in Nenagh so we let him take his chance. It’s great for the lads that own him too. They were all busy at the Dillon Quirke challenge game in Thurles, so it’s been a good day all round.”

The first two races on the card went to Wexford connections, with trainer Donnchadh Doyle and jockey Rob James combing to great effect.

The pair struck first in the opening four-year-old maiden where even-money favourite Mossy Fen Park created a favourable impression.

Fourth on debut at Ballinaboola fourteen days earlier, this son of in-form sire Walk In The Park made every yard of the running to beat runner-up Tommy Law by eighteen lengths.

Purchased for €30,000 as a foal, the winner looks destined for bigger and better things following this polished performance.

Eamonn Doyle - representing his brother Donnchadh - revealed: “This is a lovely horse. Things just didn’t seem to work out for him the last day in Ballinaboola. That race was over two-and-a-half-miles, but he learned a lot from it.

“He seemed to really enjoy himself out in front today, he jumped and travelled everywhere which is great to see. He’ll probably head on to the sales now.”

Half an hour later, the same connections were back in the number-one spot following the victory of Beneficially Yours (6/4-9/4F) in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

A €42,000 Derby Sale debutante by Milan, James’ mount went to the front between the final two fences and stayed on strongly to register a nine-length win over Denis Hogan’s Mickie Angel.

“He’s a smashing, big horse. We gave him plenty of time to fill out his frame and come to himself and, thankfully, it’s worked out,” stated Eamonn Doyle.

“I think it was a very competitive race and he did it well. He’ll most likely be sold at the Tattersalls Sale at Cheltenham on Thursday.”

Six went to post in the open lightweight for Lady Riders, with victory going to the Mary-Ellen Doyle-trained Woodbrook Boy.

Derry native Cara McGoldrick did the steering aboard this 3/1 chance who turned into the home straight with a sizeable advantage. In no danger of defeat, the Wexford raider kept on in great style to beat Visioman by eighteen lengths.

Ms McGoldrick, who works for the victorious Enniscorthy trainer, divulged: “That is the second winner of my career and my second this season. Thankfully, my mom and dad are here today as they missed my first winner in Dromahane.

“I was happy to take a lead over the first couple of fences and to get him settled. He was out-jumping the others then, so I said when he’s jumping so we’ll I’d let him roll on. We’ll look for another open race with him now.”

Landowner Peter McCutcheon made a presentation of a bottle of wine and a bunch of flowers to the winning rider to mark the occasion.

The easiest winner of the day came in the concluding older horses’ maiden where ex-track performer Golden De Coeur (5/1) trounced his ten rivals.

Luke Murphy will seldom ride an easier winner as the Richard Black-trained seven-year-old led from trap-to-line to beat Prophet’s Corner by an effortless 45 lengths.

Black, who trains the winner at his Wexford yard for owner Edgar Allen, said: “This horse has been very unlucky up to now. He was second in a bumper in Ayr two years ago. He was under the weather a bit last year but seems to be coming back to himself.

“He’s always shown us plenty and home on the gallops. Today has been a while coming, so we’ll enjoy it before deciding what road we’ll go down next.”

The Kiely family from Stradbally, Co. Waterford got in on the act when their 8/1 shot Faha Belle picked up a winning bracket in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

David Kiely - brother of winning trainer Paddy Kiely - was on-board this daughter of Soldier Of Fortune who dug deep on the run-in to hold of the determined effort of runner-up Seventy Eight Team by a length.

“We picked this mare up at the August Sale a couple years and she a nice sort. We share ownership of her with our neighbour Liam Barry,” disclosed the winning handler.

“I think she needed the run the last day when fifth on her debut in Ballindenisk and we were expecting more from her today. She did a nice piece of work during the week. We’ll chat with Liam about what he wants to do, she could go on to the track or be sold.”