Related Stories

• Whopping 15 winners from abroad in Week 30
  
  
• 8 up for local racing connections
  
  
• O’Meara takes notable Group 1 win in Newmarket
  
  
• 1957 – they year Fermoy had three circuses
  
  
• Move In Time one of six winners for David O’Meara
  
  
• Down by the Sally Island
  
  
• 3 winners apiece for Martin Lane and David O’Meara
  
  
• Several winners abroad for Avondhu race connections
  
  
• Desert Law lands £100,000 Epsom Dash for Martin Lane
  
  
• So Beloved comes in at York for David O’Meara
  
  
• O’Meara’s ‘Out Do’ scores at York
  
  
• Richie McLernon takes an impressive 4 winners in Week 19
  
  

There’s no let-up for Fermoy native and trainer, David O’Meara, with 7 winners during Week 32, which included the Armstrong Memorial H’cap at Ripon.

WEEK 32: MON, 3 AUGUST – SUNDAY, 9 AUGUST

Another 9 winners to report on from Avondhu area locals based in the UK. We have Fermoy native, David O'Meara, recording an impressive 7 of those winners, with Castletownroche native, Jonjo O'Neill adding a flat winner at big odds and finally, Kilworth native, Martin Lane also recording one winner from the saddle. Our combined total for 2015 now sits on 310 winners.

7 UP FOR O'MEARA

Fermoy native and trainer, David O'Meara, continues to dominate flat racing in the north of England, recording a total of 7 winners in Week 32, the most notable of which came with the Danny Tudhope ridden, Flyman (8/1), who took the 9 runner Armstrong Memorial H'cap (C3), over 6f, at Ripon on August 3rd last.

Finally looking to be finding form for O'Meara, this five year old gelded son of Pastoral Pursuits, signalled his turn in the winners enclosure wouldn't be long in coming with a decent run at Doncaster last time out. Drawn widest of 9 runners, in stall one, on a straight six furlong course, Flyman broke well and was soon tracking the leader, Nameitwhatyoulike, in second place. With no cover, Tudhope did his best to keep his mount interested, as Nameitwhatyoulike travelled by far and away like the best horse in the race.

Passing the halfway point and Flyman was now strongly ridden and looking well outpaced to the two pole. With Nameitwhatyoulike finally feeling the pinch just outside the one pole, a bunch finish looked likely, as all nine runners were covered by little more than three lengths. Finding more for pressure, Flyman slowly came alongside the long time leader and edged ahead with just 100yds to go. Not to be denied, Flyman had half a length to spare at the line from Snap Shots back in second. It was a further neck back to Nameitwhatyoulike in third.

Recording his first win for O'Meara and fourth in total, this George Murray owned gelding wasn't winning out of turn having dropped three pound below his last winning mark of 90. He could now begin to show marked improvement from here on in.

David O'Meara, winning trainer, went onto say, "Flyman has gradually come back to a bit of form and last time at Doncaster was a real positive run over seven furlongs. It looked like he travelled really well that day and was ready to come back to six. He'll be entered for the Great St. Wilfird and if he gets in he'll run."

O'Meara went onto record another 6 winners and they were, in date order: Primogeniture (11/4) won took the 6 runner Riponbet H'cap (C4), over 10f, under Danny Tudhope, at Ripon on August 3rd; High And Flighty (15/2), who scored on debut in the 6 runner SIS Live Maiden (C5), over 10f, under Sam James, at Ripon on August 4th; Salma Gondis (4/1), who won the 10 runner Marriott Gosforth Park Fillies' H'cap (C5), over 7f, under Sam James at Newcastle, on August 5th; Sallabeh (4/1), who won the 7 runner Racing UK Fillies' H'cap (C5), over 8f, at Haydock under Danny Tudhope, on August 6th; Second Cut (15/8), who scored in the 12 runner Bet365 H'cap (C6), over 7f, at Newcastle on August 6th and finally, Jebediah Shine (9/2), who won the 8 runner Swift Service Fillies' H'cap (C5), over 5f, under Josh Doyle at Haydock on August 7th.

O'Meara now sits on the 87 winner mark for 2015, with a seasonal total of 95 winners.

PENNY DROPS FOR IMPRESSIVE HIBOU UNDER LANE

Kilworth native and flat jockey, Martin Lane, continues steadily to bring home winners and he recorded his 31st win of 2015 aboard the Charlie Appleby trained, Hibou (6/1), who went onto take the 6 runner Leslie Weekes Maiden Stakes (C5), over 8f, at Lingfield Park on August 8th last.

Coming here off the back of a disappointing run when hot favourite at Kempton last time out, this two year old Street Cry colt, had a few questions to answer with first time blinkers now applied. Weak in the market with his debut making stablemate, Technicolour, installed as a strong favourite, Hibou was slow to stride from an inside stall position but soon made up lost ground on the early leader, Celebration Day, taking the lead himself after one furlong or so.

Moving nicely in the lead and controlling the pace, Lane began to wind up the gallop fully half a mile from home. This had the added effect of getting most of the field off the bridle at a very early stage and ridden fully two furlongs from home, Hibou looked a different proposition here. Quickening well on entering the final turn, Hibou kicked clear off the top of the home straight and ridden out, he fairly galloped home with little to no opposition, winning in the end by a ready looking four lengths, from Celebration Day back in second.

Recording his first win, on this, his fourth start, this Godolphin owned home bred seemed to benefit from the fitting of blinkers and although given an easy lead in the race itself, he put in an impressive performance. A half brother to dual Group 3 winner, Alexandros, Hibou was also stepped up to a mile here. He holds a Derby entry for 2016 and should go onto better things with more experience.

O'NEILL FINDS THE KEY TO RAYAK

Castletownroche native and trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, more associated with jump winners, had a welcome flat winner with the Richard Kingscote ridden, Rayak (25/1), who scored in the 7 runner Chepstow H'cap (C5), over 10f, at Chepstow on August 5th last.

Sent to post the total outsider in this field of runners, this five year old gelded son of Invincible Spirit, had to put a disappointing run behind him when trying to make all at Windsor last time out. With a clear change of tactics here, Kingscote dropped Rayak out last, off what looked a steady pace, set by Halling's Comet.

Passing the halfway point and entering the top of the home straight and Halling's Comet, a winning chaser, tried to put this field to the sword. Ridden strongly from four furlongs out, the leader had little more to give and he was readily passed at the three pole by Glens Wobbly.

With Rayak looking slightly outpaced going to two out, Kingscote took the brave man's route and he was noted eating up ground well inside the final two furlongs. Checked in his run, Rayak was switched right to challenge as Peak Storm became the third leader with just 100yds to go.

Getting a storming run from Rayak, Kingscote delivered the Nan Hickey owned gelding, right on the line, to win by a neck from Peak Storm back in second.

A good ride and a change of tactics saw the best from Rayak here. Recording his first win on the flat, having won over hurdles in the past, Rayak looks as if he'll stay further with more options now open to his connections going forward.

Jonjo O'Neill, winning trainer, went onto say, "Rayak has been disappointing over hurdles and we were a bit lost with him so we brought him back to the flat. He ran badly at Windsor last day so we changed tactics here. We'll keep going on the flat now."

O'Neill was recording his first flat winner of the season.

Combined UK flat/jumps 2015 = 310.

NOTE: This column will be taking a two week holiday break and will return in Week 35.

blog comments powered by Disqus