Winners alright in racing circles for connections abroad

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Winners alright in racing circles for connections abroad

Week 45 proved lucrative for Avondhu connections abroad, with some 9 winners being recorded – notably, Jonjo O’Neill, Brian Harding and Martin Lane all with 2 winners.

Barry O’Neill

Tuesday, 17 November 2015
3:20 PM GMT



WEEK 45: MONDAY, 2 NOV – SUNDAY, 8 NOV.

Another 9 winners to report on from six Avondhu area locals, based in the UK, with Jonjo O’Neill, Brian Harding and Martin Lane all recording two winners each. Also, Maurice Linehan, Richie McLernon and David O’Meara added one winner apiece to their respective totals. The mystery of Paddy Butler’s birthplace was also solved! Our combined 2015 winners total now stands at 417.

NO STOPPING ISAACSTOWN LAD UNDER HARDING

Castletownroche native and jump jockey, Brian Harding, added yet another brace of winners last week, which took his season’s tally on to the 17 winner mark. His most notable winner came aboard the Nicky Richards trained, Isaacstown Lad (11/4f), who scored in the 7 runner Graeme Todd & Friends H’cap Hurdle (C3), over 26f, at Kelso on November 7th last.

Returning from a summer break, this 8-year-old gelded son of Milan, was facing class 3 company for the first time, back up in trip, in what looked really testing ground conditions. Held up in last as the early pace was disputed between Neptune Equester and Night In Milan, Isaacstown Lad soon settled effortlessly into stride while feeling the brunt of kickback, which covered both him and his rider from head-to-toe in mud. With the pace sensible in conditions, Neptune Equester soon held the lead outright passing the winning post the first of three times.

Happy to bide his time as this race developed, Harding waited till the final circuit to make his move. Travelling smoothly to the far side, Isaacstown Lad slotted into third with Harding motionless in the saddle. Keen to track Neptune Equester into second, Harding pulled his mount out to challenge the game long-time leader before the second last. Leading over two out, Harding was still sitting there with a double handful and easing further clear between the final two hurdles.

Isaacstown Lad popped the last to forge clear up the testing Kelso run-in. Winning eased down and revelling in conditions, this M S Borders Racing Club owned gelding, had some 7 lengths to spare over Neptune Equester, back in second. Picking up where he left off in May this year, Isaacstown Lad was recording his third win in a row. A rise of 22 pounds has seemingly had little effect on his chances and the way he won here suggests that another penalty will not stop him completing a four-timer. He holds another entry on November 11th at Ayr, and may go in again if showing up.

Nicky Richards, winning trainer, said, “Monsoon conditions suit Isaacstown Lad and he loved the ground. He also stays very well.”

Harding completed his brace of winners earlier in the week, aboard the Jim Goldie trained Sir Chauvelin (6/1), who scored on his hurdling debut, in the 9 runner Border Safeguard Juvenile 3-year-old Hurdle (C4), over 15.5f, at Musselburgh on November 6th last.

OCEANOGRAPHER WASHES AWAY OPPOSITION UNDER LANE

Kilworth native and flat jockey, Martin Lane, recorded yet another two winners in Week 45, which took his 2015 winning rides total on to the 45 winner mark. His most notable win came aboard the Charlie Appleby trained, Oceanographer (2/1), who went on to take the 5 runner Tote H’cap (C4), over 10f, at Chelmsford on November 5th last.

Returning to the track after a seven-month lay-off, and gelded since disappointing on his handicap debut last April, this three-year-old son of Sea The Stars, also wore first-time cheekpieces, on this, his all-weather debut. Well away from the widest draw position, and keen early off what looked a slow enough pace, set by both Sarsted and In Pursuit, Oceanographer wasn’t helping matters by refusing to settle. Taking the bull by the horns, Lane, rushed his mount up around the outside of the leaders well over five furlongs out, and soon Oceanographer controlled this race from the front.

Dictating his own pace, Lane looked to have only race favourite, Sarsted, to worry about entering the top over the home-straight. Ridden strongly, Oceanographer responded in bucket loads and striding clear of Sarsted, this Godolphin owned gelding drew away for a scintillating win, eased down by some 8 lengths from Sarsted, back in second.

Not the easiest to train, Oceanographer, could now make up into a nice staying prospect and this win looked 20lbs better than his maiden win as a two-year-old at Pontefract. He could very well make-up into a black-type horse if staying mentally and physically sound.

Lane went on to ride another big priced winner later in the week aboard the Roger Ingram trained, Dukes Meadow (25/1), who scored in the 9 runner Totepool H’cap (C4), over 8f, again at Chelmsford, on November 6th last. Recording his first win, on this, his fifth start, this four-year-old gelded son of Pastoral Pursuits was another horse returning to the track after a huge lay off of almost 9 months.

Lane is one of the few flat jockeys you can follow off a cliff on the all-weather and still come out miles in front.

MONBEG TAKES GOLD ON HANDICAP DEBUT

Castletownroche native and trainer, Jonjo O’Neill, added another two winners to his ever increasing seasonal total, which now stands at 46. His most notable winner came with the Richard Johnson ridden, Monbeg Gold (3/1Jf), who took out the 14 runner Bathwick Tyres H’cap Hurdle (C4), over 23f, at Exeter on November 3rd last. Making his handicap hurdling debut and second on his last two maiden hurdle starts, this five-year-old gelded son of Gold Well was again upped in trip, in testing conditions with an opening handicap mark of 114.

In murky conditions, it was hard at times to make out the runners but the early lead was a disputed one, between Friendly Society and CaptainofIndustry, who bowled along at a sensible pace early, as Johnson settled Monbeg Gold in third towards the outside. Passing the winning post with a circuit to go and CaptainofIndustry took a slight lead, but was again quickly pressed by Friendly Society as the field headed towards the sixth flight.

With Friendly Society looking less than happy in conditions and coming under pressure before the 7th flight, it was CaptainofIndustry who took the lead outright with Monbeg Gold stalking the lead. With the field now well strung out as the leaders entered the long home straight, none looked to be travelling as well as Monbeg Gold and Johnson. Joining CaptainofIndustry approaching the third last, Johnson eased his mount into the lead and steadily drew clear going over the second last.

Running down the last, this Martin Broughton Racing Partners owned gelding had over 8 lengths of clear daylight between himself and his nearest pursuers up the short run-in. Eased heavily close home, Monbeg Gold had loads in hand, winning by an official margin of 5 lengths from Say My Name back in second, it was a further short-head back to Millanisi Bay in third.

Recording his first success on the track, on this, his fourth start, this former Barry O’Neill ridden Tallow Point-to-Point winner looks to have benefited from a real test of stamina here and his rating of 114 belittles his ability. He should in time make up into a nice staying chaser.

O’Neill went on to record another winner with the Richard Johnson ridden See The Rock (9/2), who scored in the 8 runner Winner.Co.Uk Maiden Hurdle (C4), over 18.5f, at Market Rasen on November 5th last. Having only his second start for O’Neill since arriving from Markus Klug’s yard, in Germany, this five-year-old Shirocco gelding just got home in a tight finish, winning by a short-head from Final Nudge and Aidan Coleman. See The Rock is also a four-time winner on the flat in Germany.

Johnson keeps up his impressive strike-rate for O’Neill, which now stands at 35% with 15 wins from 43 rides.

MARAAKIB MAKES IT THREE WINS IN THREE WEEKS

Fermoy native and trainer, David O’Meara, continues to keep his horses ticking over nicely and recorded his 118th winner of 2015 with the Josh Doyle ridden, Maraakib (4/1Jf), who took the 10 runner Racing UK H’cap (C3), over 10f, at Redcar on November 3rd last. Coming into this race off the back of a disappointing run at Newmarket, only four days earlier, this three-year-old gelded son of Dark Angel was trying to bounce back to form, in this, higher class race.

Drawn one down the inside, Doyle was quick to take advantage of the rail and well away, Maraakib slowly edged his way to the front of proceedings after two furlongs. Always doing everything in his stride and controlling the pace to his liking, Maraakib turned into the top of the home-straight full of running as the field stacked up behind him.

Ridden to go about his job well inside the three-furlong marker, this Evan Sutherland owned gelding found plenty for pressure under Doyle. Heading inside the final furlong and looking lonely or idle in front, Maraakib let the chasing pack sniff his tail and then took off again with 100yds to go. Staying on strongly, he repelled fellow joint-favourite, Empress Ali, by an easy looking one length come the line. It was a further neck back to Bahamian C, in third.

Recording his third win inside three weeks, and kept busy by his opportunistic trainer, Maraakib was winning here off an all time high handicap mark of 88 and with another six-pound penalty due, he could well find himself on the cusp of another rise to class 2 level if rated beyond 95. It may be worth stepping him up in trip again, to eke out more improvement, as life becomes harder from now on for a horse who has found some twenty pounds of improvement since joining O’Meara this summer.

CATO PRODUCED TO PERFECTION BY LINEHAN

Fermoy native and conditional jump jockey, Maurice Linehan, was back in the winners circle, aboard the Ben Pauling trained Itsnowcato (9/1), who went on to take the 13 runner Attheraces Maiden Hurdle (C5), over 16f, at Plumpton on November 2nd last.

Having his first ever ride for Pauling, and thrown in at the deep end aboard a hurdling debutant, Linehan soon had his mount right upsides the early leader, Oulamayo, with the pair given a fair start of some six lengths by the rest of the chasing pack.

With Oulamayo taking over in front on jumping the second flight, Itsnowcato settled nicely into second place, as the rest of the field closed right up on the leaders. Jumping well in Linehan’s hands for a debutant, Itsnowcato always travelled well and only for a slight mistake where he lost ground over the sixth, this four-year-old gelded son of Notnowcato, was soon reeling in the leader off the home turn.

Coming upsides the tiring Oulamayo, Itsnowcato strode into the lead approaching the second last with Baltic Storm looking the only real threat. Jumping the second last a length up, Linehan got busy in the plate and pinging the last, his strength in the saddle was again seen at its most potent, as Itsnowcato stayed on strongly to repel the challenge of Baltic Storm, by some three lengths. It was a further 10 lengths back to Oulamayo, in third.

A taking performance from all concerned considering this horse was off the track for over a year. A half brother to 142 rated hurdler Discoteca, he should go on to better things. Maurice Linehan, speaking to The Avondhu, said, “Itsnowcato is a nice horse who travelled and jumped well. It was nice to get a winner for Ben Pauling who’s a good trainer on the way up.”

BALL HOPPER BOUNCES TO EASY WIN UNDER MCLERNON

Liscarroll native and jump jockey, Richie McLernon, surpassed last season’s winners’ tally of 20, by taking the 5 runner Attheraces H’cap Chase (C5), over 19.5f, at Plumpton aboard the Richenda Ford trained, Ball Hopper (9/2).

Back from a near seven-month absence and on an all-time low handicap mark of 77, this 11-year-old gelded son of Rock Hopper was soon settled into third place off a steady pace set firstly by Killabraher Cross and then by the keen going, Dancing Dik. Going the shortest way around, Ball Hopper took everything in his stride, always travelling and jumping well in McLernon’s hands.

With a full circuit complete, the pace lifted, as again Killabraher Cross jumped into the lead, as early pacesetter, Dancing Dik, faded tamely after the 10th of 14 fences. Switching his mount towards the centre to challenge, McLernon came alongside Killabraher Cross soon after the third last and swooping around the outside off the home turn, this Mr & Mrs K. Snook owned gelding, strode clear approaching the second last. Two excellent jumps over the second last and last saw this race well and truly put to bed, as Ball Hopper went further and further clear up the short run-in. An eased down margin of 10 lengths was recorded back to the second, Killabraher Cross.

Registering only his second win from just 17 rules start, Ball Hopper is also a dual point-to-point winner and rising 12 years of age, it remains to be seen if he can exploit his low handicap mark. Richenda Ford, winning trainer, went on to say, “It took ages to get Ball Hopper handicapped after we won two point-to-points with him and my dad told me to get rid of him before the start of the season, but I knew he had another race in him. Richie said they weren’t going fast enough for him today.”

GREAT READER FEEDBACK

Thanks to reader Dave Daly, who informed me that the UK based trainer, Paddy Butler, was indeed born and raised in Ballyadeen, Castletownroche. If any other reader feels there are more Avondhu folk based in the UK and working professionally as a trainer or jockey, please feel free to let me know. It’s very much appreciated.

UK flat/jumps 2015 413, Ireland 1, France 2, Canada 1.



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