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A quieter week on the racing front for Avondhu area connections in the UK, the highlight being at Haydock Park for trainer Jonjo O’Neill. Photo: 123RF

WEEK 47 18th-24th NOVEMBER. 2013

A quieter than usual week for area locals, with six winners combined from five individual horses, the most notable win coming from More Of That, who brought up a hat-trick of wins from as many runs at Haydock Park for trainer Jonjo O'Neill.

McLERNON WELL 'WORTH' HIS SALT

Liscarroll native and jump jockey, Richie McLernon, continued on from where he left off last week and recorded yet another winner for his boss, Jonjo O'Neill, aboard Fort Worth (4/6f), in a class 6 bumper over 1m6f at Huntingdon, on November 23rd last.

Making his racecourse debut, having finished fourth in a point-to-point at Dromahane, this four year old son of Presenting was sent to post a warm order, off the back of a seven month break. With this eight-runner field looking light on depth and opposition, McLernon was content to sit in midfield, as Newforge House (6/1) under Brendan Powell Jr., made the running off a steady gallop.

Always travelling well, Fort Worth took closer order off the home turn, streamlining the leader, who was now wandering and getting a bit lonely out in front. Going by far the best, McLernon made his move around Newforge House at the one furlong pole and soon in command, needed only to be pushed out, to win as he liked by three and a quarter lengths at the line.

A 150,000gns purchase as a three year old by Fermoy native John Magnier, Fort Worth is the fourth foal out of an unraced half sister to champion hurdle winners, Morley Street and Granville Again. He is also a half brother to the Willie Mullins’ trained mare, Tasitiocht, a four-time winner and a full brother to Pink Hat, who is two from two in bumpers, also for Mullins.

Fort Worth looks a smashing type, if somewhat raw and it will be interesting to see how he progresses through the season, especially when put over hurdles. Richie McLernon, speaking to The Avondhu, went onto say, “He had the form and pedigree to win how he did. We pulled well clear of the rest and hopefully he can go on from this now.”

Castletownroche native and trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, went on to record another two winners last week, bringing him onto the 94 winner mark for this jumps season. His most notable winner came with the Tony McCoy ridden, More Of That (3/1f), in a class 2 handicap hurdle over 2m4f at Haydock Park, on November 23rd last.

Recording his third win over hurdles from as many starts, this five year old son of Beneficial, benefited from another power-packed McCoy ride. Dropped into midfield, More Of That was sighted travelling well to the third last with a line of horses in front of him. Getting outpaced going to the second last and not too fluent, McCoy still found himself in sixth place going to the last. With race favourite and recent Cheltenham scorer, Home Run (9/2) living up to his name, McCoy switched his mount to the outside and winged the last. Still five lengths down, More Of That responded again when it mattered most, as he had done at Wetherby on his previous start. Storming down the outside he collared the front three to lead well inside the final furlong, getting on top near the line, to win going away by two lengths from Blue Fashion (9/1), who stayed on well to take second place.

More Of That looks a top staying chaser in the making and he has the pedigree to back it up, being a full brother to the stables Eastlake and a half brother to five other winners, including grade 2 winner, Santenay. He already looks graded class himself on this evidence and his rating will be nearer 150 after this effort.

Tony McCoy, winning jockey, went onto say "He got a bit outpaced. A handicap as competitive as that was a bit of a shock to him."

O'Neill's third and final winner came with Tigresse Bleue (8/13f), who followed up her recent Huntingdon win, with an easy success in a class 4 novices handicap hurdle over 2m4f, at Chepstow, on November 21st last. Making it three wins in total, this five year old daughter of Bachelor Duke, had 8lb in hand of the handicapper, after a quick reappearance here under the mandatory 7lb penalty. Looking at ease in heavy ground conditions, Tigresse Bleue has time on her side and may make up into a good chaser with age.

Tony McCoy, winning jockey, went onto say, "She had to win if the handicapper got it right from her Huntingdon victory. I would think she'll be going chasing at some stage.”

BERNARDELLI OFF THE MARK UNDER HARDING

Castletownroche native and jump jockey, Brian Harding, kept up his winning momentum with another winner, aboard the Nicky Richards trained Bernardelli (4/1), in a class 4 novice handicap hurdle over 2m at Huntingdon, on November 23rd last.

Recording his first win from seven starts, this five year old gelded son of Grange Stud stallion, Golan, built on a good second on his handicap debut three weeks earlier, under Tony McCoy. Running here off the same mark of 108, Bernardelli had six rivals to contend with, in what looked an ordinary enough race.

Content to sit in touch in midfield, Harding bided his time despite a mistake down the back straight. Making his move around runners to the outside three out, Bernardelli travelled well and joined the leaders, The Stig (8/1) and Ballincurrig (6/1) at the second last. With three runners now in line between the last two flights, The Stig was the first to crack and a protracted duel developed between Ballincurrig and Bernardelli. With both horses in the air together over the last, it was down to who wanted it the most. Harding knuckled down and with the advantage of the rail, was always pulling out a bit more from his mount, having just a neck to spare at the line from Ballincurrig and Miss Gina Andrews, back in second place.

A first foal out of a half sister to Premier Dane, Bernardelli was sold for €30,000 as a three year old, after failing to sell as a foal, when consigned by Grange Stud, Fermoy. He could make a nice chaser in time and no doubt trainer, Nicky Richards, will aim him in that direction sooner rather than later. Brian Harding, winning jockey, went onto say, "I thought turning in that Bernardelli would win. He probably just idled a bit in front, so when the other horse came upsides him, that helped him out. He will definitely get further than this."

KENIRY CHALKS ONE 'UP' ON AVON

Killeagh native and flat jockey, Liam Keniry, was back amongst the winners after a recent break. He was recording his 65th winner of 2013, aboard the David Elsworth trained Upavon (33/1), in a class 3 handicap over 7f at Kempton Park, on November 21st last.

Sent to post the complete outsider, after a string of recent bad runs, this three year old son of Avonbridge, bounced back to his spring all weather form in no uncertain terms here. Nearer last than first entering the home straight, in this 11-runner contest, Keniry was sighted pushing his mount hands and heels up the inside. Switching to the middle of the track and with clear daylight, Upavon began to power home and challenging between runners, he fairly mowed down the David O'Meara trained Frontier Fighter (7/2Jf) inside the final 100yds, for a snug looking half a length win.

Recording his third win from just six starts on polytrack, Upavon could have more to offer and a summer wind operation has no doubt helped with his breathing issues. A 10,000gns yearling, out of a half sister to 6f group 3 winner, Central City, Upavon is lightly raced and could pay his way over the winter months to come.

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