WEEK 23 – 3rd-9th JUNE 2013

Another outstanding week for Avondhu area locals in the UK with no less than 18 individual winners and 19 winners overall. Fermoy trainer David O’Meara providing a remarkable 10 of those winners and recording his 200th flat winner since 2010.

TEN PLUS FOR O’MEARA

Fermoy trainer David O’Meara had a momentous week in his short career, training no less than 10 winners. He has now broke through the 200 winner mark on the flat since taking out a training license in 2010. He is now only 7 winners off matching last season’s flat total of 69 and is on target to reach a milestone 100 winners in one season.

To say the man has arrived would be an understatement and all credit must go, not only to him, but to his staff, who work so diligently to get these horses to post in top condition. They say a trainer is only as good as the team behind him.

Having previously reported on 9 winners from the O’Meara camp in seven days on the all weather this year, it comes as no surprise to this writer to see the blitz of winners emanating from Nawton, North Yorkshire. In truth, there should be one other winner, but for the second consecutive week jockey error has cost the O’Meara camp dearly. This happened when jockey David Nolan eased down Petrol when two lengths clear inside the final furlong, he was caught napping close home and duly threw away the race. A 12 day ban followed for Nolan which added to the 28 day ban received by David Bergin the previous week, for mistaking the winning post. A shortage of riders will not be an issue for this yard, with jockeys lining up to ride their horses.

I can only list O’Meara’s winners this week due to space restrictions here. Being a bookie in Fermoy must be a dangerous occupation these days. The O’Meara 10 were, Creek Falcon (3/1), Bondesire (9/4), Sharaarah (6/4), Awake My Soul (7/4), Dick Bos (9/2), Ingelby Angel (6/5), Lucky Numbers (8/1), Powerful Presence(11/4), Lexington Blue(8/1) and Nurpur (4/7).

O’Meara now moves onto the 62 winner mark for the 2013 flat season.

KENIRY SEES DAYLIGHT ON HIGHLAND CASTLE

Killeagh flat jockey, Liam Keniry is getting into the swing of things lately and with some top yards using his services, he will always have the ammunition to fire in the winners. Two winners, including a high profile Saturday winner, always helps.

The Saturday winner came aboard Highland Castle (12/1) for in-form trainer David Elsworth in a class 2 handicap over 1m4f at Newmarket. Taken down early to post, this son of Halling was steadied out the back in this ten runner contest. Taking his usual keen hold, Highland Castle was seen making good headway at the 2f marker and switched left by Keniry, stayed on strongly up the centre of the track to get his head in front at the line. A winning margin of a neck was recorded from Handsome Man (6/1) and Keniry must be given full credit for this well-timed ride.

Running off a mark of 89 here, Elsworth’s gelding was once rated 106 and could be considered well handicapped on form dating back to 2011. Missing all of 2012, Highland Castle has been very leniently treated by the assessor who dropped him 14Lb after just two starts in 2013. He will no doubt be aimed at the Ebor after this win.

Keniry’s second winner came earlier in the week aboard the Andrew Balding trained Daylight (4/5) in a class 5 maiden for three year olds over 5f at Bath. Sent off a hot favourite, this son of Firebreak made all the running and pushed clear inside the final furlong, went on to record an easy win by four lengths from Silverrica (7/4).

Running against four fillies in this maiden, this colt was giving weight all around, and on only his third start, should progress further. He has now earned a handicap mark which shouldn’t be more than 75 and will be very competitive if taking that route in the near future.

Balding went onto say, “He had lots of problems last season, but he’s fine now and should go on from here.”

McLERNON AND O’NEILL ROAST RIVALS WITH COFFEE

Liscarroll jump jockey Richie McLernon rode another winner on board the Jonjo O’Neill trained Coffee (14/1) in a class 2 handicap hurdle over 2m at Stratford. Stepping up in class in this competitive looking handicap, Coffee looked to have it all to do off an 8Lb higher mark (119), than for winning his previous start at Market Rasen.

Suited to a strong pace, McLernon kept this Beneficial gelding just off the leaders and came through with a decisive challenge to lead over the last. Running on strongly he went on to win by two and a quarter lengths at the line from Sidney Melbourne (8/1) back in second. Still improving, he can expect another hefty rise in the weights for this, his fourth win. Whether he can record a third win in a row remains to be seen.

McLernon went onto say, “Coffee jumped well and was able to hold his position as a result. He likes this decent ground.”

Castletownroche trainer and the aforementioned Jonjo O’Neill still has his horses in fine form. Another good week for the Jackdaws handler, seeing him add four more winners to this season’s jumps tally of 18 and an impressive strike rate of nearly 20%.

An across the card double with Well Hello There (7/2) at Ffos Las and Social Realism (4/1) at Worcester, was followed up with a gutsy win for Lost Legend (7/4) at Stratford later in the week. All three horses were again ridden by Tony McCoy, who is now on the 21 winner mark, just one off championship leader Jason Maguire.

LEGENDARY FALLON STRIKES FOR VAUGHAN

Rockmills trainer Ed Vaughan has his horses in fine form. One win, four seconds and a third from his last eight runners is testament to that. Legendary (9/2) became his latest winner back on polytrack in a class 5 maiden over 1m at Kempton Park.

Ridden by former champion Kieran Fallon, this four year old son of Exceed and Excel was well supported in the market and with cheekpieces reapplied, went on to score emphatically by six lengths from Wilfred Pickles (10/1) back in second. Legendary’s all weather stats now read two wins from three starts, with the other run being a second.

He looks a totally different prospect on this surface and ran to at least 85 here which would be a career best. Lightly raced with only six previous starts, he should follow up if turned out quickly in the next week or so. Running off 75 here I envisage a hike in his rating to at least 85 once reassessed. He has two entries on the 12th June, one of which is back on this surface at Kempton Park.

Vaughan went on to say, “Legendary was really progressive early last season and ran a good race in a hot Newmarket handicap won by the subsequent Britannia winner. But like a lot of mine last season he wasn’t quite right in the summer and was disappointing. I don’t think this is down to the cheekpieces necessarily and there is a race back here for him – a 0-75 apprentice handicap which closes tomorrow – or a 1m1f at Yarmouth, but he likes this surface.”

ONE LANE TRAFFIC ON LONDON BRIDGE

Kilworth flat jockey Martin Lane continued his good form last week and could be considered unlucky not to have had more than one winner, with four second placings.

His winner came aboard London Bridge (3/1) for Lambourn trainer Jo Hughes in a class 6 handicap over 1m2f at Brighton. Making his handicap debut of a mark of 64 here, this three year old son of Arch needed all of Lane’s experience after seemingly not handling the early undulations of this quirky track. Turning into the home straight, Lane positioned his mount in slight isolation up the centre of the course. Staying on dourly up the Brighton hill, London Bridge went on to record an encouraging win by one and three quarter lengths from Spieta (7/2) back in second.

Possibly appreciating the step up to 10f here and having only his fourth start, Jo Hughes’s charge has multiple handicap entries this week and should be noted if showing up in any of them.

Lane went onto say, “He didn’t really handle the downhill but when he hit the rising ground he picked up well. He didn’t mind the ground and will stay a bit further as well.

REMEMBERING SIR HENRY

Sir Henry Cecil probably the greatest British racehorse trainer of all time, passed away on Tuesday morning after a long battle with cancer. Our sympathies go out to all his family and friends. He will be sorely missed and brought all of us so many great memories. It was fitting that Frankel came into to his life over the last few years. He has run his final race and finished miles clear of his rivals. RIP Sir Henry Cecil 1943-2013.