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Some impressive horse racing wins for Avondhu area connections to report from Week 18 abroad.

WEEK 18: 28th Apr-4th MAY 2014

Another 10 winners combined to report on from Avondhu area locals based in the UK, including winners from David O'Meara (3), Liam Keniry (3), Martin Lane (2), Maurice Linehan (1) and Jonjo O'Neill (1).

WHIPLASH ABSENCE NO BARRIER UNDER KENIRY

Killeagh native and flat jockey, Liam Keniry, added another three winners to his season’s tally, which now stands on a healthy looking 30. His most notable win came aboard the Andrew Balding trained WhipLash Willie (5/1), who took the 9 runner Betfred CityBowl Handicap (C2), over 1m6f at Salisbury, on May 4th last.

Off the track for 988 days, this six year old son of Phoenix Reach, showed he had lost nothing of his old sparkle after such a long lay-off. Held up early doors by Keniry, Whiplash Willie made stealthy progress into the home straight, just as the pace quickened on joining the course proper.

Positioned to challenge long time leader, Rockfella, up the inside of runners, Keniry looked confident entering the final three furlongs. Making smooth headway to join both Rockfella and race favourite Albert Bridge at the two marker, Whiplash Willie kicked on to the one pole, with Rockfella his only challenger in tow. Keniry, hands and heels, got a big response from his mount, duly wearing down a game Rockfella and going on to win by three quarters of a length at the line. It was a further six lengths back to Albert Bridge in third place.

This has to go down as a brilliant training performance from Balding, who produced Whiplash Willie in top condition for this race. Gelded since last seen on a racecourse and with obvious physical issues, the John Hitchen’s owned gelding will now be aimed at the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup in June. Lightly raced, he has now won 4 times from just 10 starts.

Liam Keniry, speaking to The Avondhu, said, “Whiplash Willie did very well to win, he gave the second 19lb and settled very well considering he had been off for almost 3 years. Hopefully he'll stay sound and go on to be competitive in black type races.”

Keniry went on to ride a further two winners in week 18, both winners coming across two cards on the same day, April 28th. His first winner came again aboard another Andrew Balding trained inmate, Desert Command (2/1f), who took the 32Red.Com Handicap (C4), over 5f (1,100m) at Bath. Keniry's double was completed aboard the David Elsworth trained, Justice Good (1/1f), who took the Unibet Maiden Stakes (C5) over 5f, at Windsor on this, just his second start.

O'MEARA HITS THE JACKPOT AGAIN

Fermoy native and trainer, David O'Meara, continues in scintillating form, as he recorded yet another three winners in week 18, taking his 2014 tally up to 22. His most notable winner came with the Danny Tudhope ridden, Hit The Jackpot (5/6f), who followed up his recent Beverley win, under a 6lb penalty, when taking the 5 runner Core Oil And Gas Handicap (C4), over 1m1f at Musselburgh, on May 2nd last.

Sent to post a warm order, this five year old son of Pivotal made short work of his rivals here. Keen early doors off a good pace set by San Cassiano, Hit The Jackpot tanked through this race and came there on the bridle two out to challenge and pass the long time leader. Sent about his job, the Hambleton Racing owned gelding scooted clear inside the final furlong to win, going away by an easy looking one and three quarter lengths. San Cassiano plugged on well for second place.

Looking a different horse this season after being dropped in trip, Hit The Jackpot was recording his third win, all of which have come over distances varying from 8f to 10f. Winning here off a mark of 80, he still looks just ahead of his mark and may well complete a hat-trick of wins. He holds an entry at Chester on May 8th next. Danny Tudhope, winning jockey, went onto say, “He's won nicely again and is a different horse this year. David O'Meara has done a great job with him.”

O'Meara went onto record another two winners with Wildcat Lass (5/2), who broke her maiden tag at Southwell, over 6f on April 28th last and Sheriff Of Nawton (5/4f), who followed up his recent Catterick win under a penalty, by taking a class 6 handicap at Redcar, on May 1st last. Both horses were again ridden by stable jockey Danny Tudhope, who now sits on the 29 winner mark.

LUCK IN THE NAME, LUCK IN THE GAME

Kilworth native and flat jockey, Martin Lane, kept up his winning momentum in week 18, recording yet another two winners. His most notable win coming aboard the David Simcock trained, Luck Of The Game (13/8f), who took the 6 runner QuickSilverSlots Maiden Stakes (C5), over 1m (1,700m) at Wolverhampton, on April 28th last.

Making his racecourse debut, this three year son old Thewayyouare, was sent to post a warm favourite in the silks of Michael Tabor. Breaking well off a steady pace, set by Brownsville, Lane settled his mount in about 4th position, wide of runners. Pushed wide all the way and looking green going to halfway, Luck Of The Game was soon stoked up by Lane, who found himself working harder than he ideally wanted to at such an early stage of the race. As the leader kicked for home, Luck Of The Game looked all at sea and booked for 4th place at best. Outpaced and under maximum pressure from the two pole, Lane got due reward for persistence when the race changed dramatically off the home-turn. Brownsville, seemingly with the race at his mercy, swung wide and hung violently right off the home turn, losing a mass of ground in the process. Lane sensing he now had a chance, switched his mount to the inside and suddenly found himself in front under a left hand drive.

Hanging right himself and almost colliding with Brownsville, who was now back upsides, Lane got down to business and ridden out, Luck Of The Game edged out the wayward Brownsville, just before the winning post, to win, in the most unlikeliest of fashion, by half a length. A race full of incident, but a likeable winner who should have learned a lot from this experience. It will be interesting to see where connections go next with him. He certainly looks a big raw three year old, with an engine to boot.

Martin Lane, speaking to The Avondhu, said, “He's a lovely big horse by an interesting sire. He ran very green but by the line he won a shade cosy and all going well, that was just the start of more to come.”

Lane's second winner came in the shape of the Bernard Llewellyn trained, Captain Sharpe (14/1), who took the 32RedPoker.com Handicap (C6) over 2m, at Chepstow on May 2nd last.

Recording his debut win on the flat, on this his 21st attempt, Captain Sharpe has three wins over hurdles to his credit and has always looked versatile and game in a finish. Lane produced him to win right on the line by a nose. He holds another hurdle entry at Newton Abbot, on May 8th next.

Lane was recording his 10th and 11th winners of the season.

LINEHAN POINTS ARROW IN RIGHT DIRECTION

Fermoy native and jump jockey, Maurice Linehan, made it a day of firsts at Bangor-on-Dee, on May 2nd last, riding his first winner of the 2014/15 season and first as a 3lb claimer, aboard the Jonjo O'Neill trained Clues And Arrows (2/1f), in the TurfTv Handicap Hurdle (C5) over 3m.

Linehan, who had his claim reduced from 5lb to 3lb on reaching 40 winners, is riding on a crest of a wave at the moment and there is no doubt he has a huge future in front of him.

Riding this six year old son of Clerkenwell, Linehan sat handy off what looked a good pace, set by Genny Wren. Travelling smoothly, Clues And Arrows took closer order, going upsides the leader to 4 out. Leading effortlessly to the third last, Linehan was full of horse turning into the home straight. Sitting quietly in the famous silks of Peter Piller, O'Neill's charge was allowed to stride clear over the second last. Pulling away from Area Access approaching the final flight, Clues And Arrows popped the last well and coasted home for an easy win, by some seven lengths. Area Access stayed on well for second place, with the game Genny Wren regaining third place late on.

Following up on his recent Taunton win, Clues And Arrows, was winning here off a mark of just 87. Looking well ahead of the handicapper, this former point-to-point winner will no doubt be placed to exploit this fact over the coming days. Due a hike up in the weights this week, he will be seen out sooner rather than later and with ground conditions ideal, it will be hard to deny him a third win on the bounce.

O'Neill was also recording his first winner of the season and his Jackdaws team are in blistering form of late. Maurice Linehan, speaking to The Avondhu, said, “He jumped and travelled well and the step up to three miles suited him well. It was good to get that first winner under the 3lb claim.”

AND THERE'S MORE..

Special mention to two Kilworth jockeys, Adrian Heskin and Johnny Allen, who both rode big race winners last week. Heskin, riding the Tom Gibney trained, Orpheus Valley to success in the Guinness Handicap Chase at the Punchestown festival and Allen, riding the Darren Weir trained, Gotta Take Care, who won the $100,000 Gallywood Hurdle, at Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia, on April 30th last.

Total UK wins flat/jumps 2014 = 157; total wins Dubai = 3.

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