8 up for local racing connections

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8 up for local racing connections

With a hood reapplied for his run at Catterick, 8/1 shot Signore Piccolo took the 8 runner Handelsbanken H’cap (C4) on July 15th last, for trainer David O’Meara.

Barry O’Neill

Tuesday, 28 July 2015
8:25 PM GMT



WEEK 29: MONDAY, 13 JULY – SUNDAY 19, 2015

We have 8 winners to report on this week from Avondhu area locals based in the UK, with Fermoy native, David O'Meara, again recording half of those winners. Killeagh native, Liam Keniry added a further 2 winners from the saddle, while Kilworth native, Martin Lane and Castletownroche native, Jonjo O'Neill, added a winner apiece. Our combined total for 2015 now sits on 275 winners.

PICCOLO WELL TUNED TO QUIRKY CATTERICK

Fermoy native and trainer, David O'Meara, registered a further 4 winners in Week 29, this, taking his 2015 total onto the 69 winner mark. His most notable winner came with the David Nolan ridden, Signore Piccolo (8/1), who took the 8 runner Handelsbanken H'cap (C4), over 6f, at Catterick on July 15th last.

Returning to a track where he was previously successful, this four year old gelded son of Piccolo was bidding to put two disappointing runs behind him, at Doncaster and Haydock, where slow starts hindered his chances from the outset. With a hood reapplied, Signore Piccolo had no such trouble on this occasion and well away, he settled into about sixth position, off what looked a good early pace, set by race favourite, Best Trip.

With no breathing space on this tight track the field entered the home turn bend with Nolan low in the saddle, seemingly outpaced and struggling to hold position. Entering the top of the home straight and Best Trip made the best of his way home as he kicked on, trying to take the sting out of any closers. Coming back into Nolan's hands, Signore Piccolo was switched to the centre of the track to make his challenge and ridden strongly well inside the final two furlongs, this Lancashire Lads owned gelding, responded in bucket loads. Picking off the field one by one, he stormed down the outside to gather in his final victim, Best Trip, well inside the final furlong, going on to win readily by some one and a half lengths from Native Falls, who snatched second from Best Trip close home.

Recording his fourth win in total and second over course and distance, Signore Piccolo was having his seventh run for O'Meara and looks well suited to a flat out gallop and Catterick's tight turns. He will now be reassessed by the handicapper after winning here off a mark of 82 and with 85 being the class 4 ceiling limit, he will likely be pushed into class 3 company for the second time.

Jason Kelly, assistant trainer to O'Meara, went onto say, “They went quick and he picked up and stayed on strongly, which is how he likes to race. The bit of juice in the ground was also in his favour."

O'Meara went onto record a further three winners and they were, in date order, Zacynthus (7/2), who took the 7 runner Racing UK H'cap (C4), over 7f, at Ayr under Sam James, on July 13th last. Having his first run for O'Meara, this seven year old gelded son of Ifraaj, was recording his fifth win in total.

Glad Tidings (3/10f), who scored in the 4 runner Fair Friday Maiden Auction Stakes (C5), at Hamilton, over 8f under David Nolan, on July 16th and lastly, Bahamian Desert (9/4f), who went onto take the 10 runner Racing UK H'cap (C6), at Redcar, over 9f under Sam James, on July 19th last. In further news, O'Meara's stable jockey, Danny Tudhope, made a welcome return to the saddle from injury last Saturday.

RAWAN ON THE UPGRADE UNDER KENIRY

Killeagh native and flat jockey, Liam Keniry, added a further two winners to his 2015 total, which now sits on the 29 winner mark. His most notable winner came aboard the Mark Usher trained, Bakht A Rawan (9/4), who took the 4 runner Burgh Heath H'cap (C5), over 8.5f, at Epsom on July 16th last.

Bidding to follow up his recent Nottingham win, off an 8lb higher mark, this three year old gelded son of Rip Van Winkle, was well supported in the pre race market, as the runners went to post. Well away and settled early into third place off a good gallop, set by race favourite, Merritt Island, Keniry kept his mount more to the outside of runners. Sitting upsides the second placed horse, My Strategy, for most of the journey this race took a different shape as the leader got keen going downhill on the far side. Anxious not to see Merritt Island gain an easy advantage, Keniry took closer order rounding Tattenham corner, moving swiftly into second to bear down on the leader quickly on straightening up for home.

Coming alongside Merritt Island just outside the two pole, Bakht A Rawan strode effortlessly past the faltering leader in a matter of strides, putting daylight between himself and the rest of the field. Ridden clear well inside the final furlong, Bakht A Rawan was well in command close home and went onto win by some two and a quarter lengths at the line. An emphatic win here sees the Imran Butt owned gelding, as a rapid improver with stamina looking his forte. Recording his second win in a row, he will no doubt feel the wrath of the handicapper after this effort but looks to hold scope and some hope of completing a hat-trick.

Liam Keniry, winning jockey, speaking to The Avondhu, said, “Bakht A Rawan is improving now they've found his ideal conditions of a mile on good ground. He should win again hopefully.”

Mark Usher, winning trainer, went onto say, "My horses are running well. Bakht A Rawan has a nice pedigree and I think he'll keep on improving. Good ground is the key to him as he found Bath too quick last month.”

Keniry went onto record a second winner aboard the Dave Morris trained Nucky Thompson (10/1), who won the 11 runner British Stallion Studs Maiden Stakes (C5), over 7f, at Lingfield on July 18th last. Showing marked improvement from his Newmarket debut, this two year old Cockney Rebel colt, broke his maiden tag at just the second attempt and looks a nice type, with a great attitude going forward.

FERMOY BRED LEGEND IMPRESSIVE UNDER DICKY

Castletownroche native and trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, recorded his 20th jump winner of the season with the Richard (Dicky) Johnson ridden, American Legend (15/8f), who took the 7 runner HomeExpert Letting Agents H'cap Chase (C4), over 23f, at Worcester on July 15th last. Coming here off the back of a solid Uttoxeter effort last time out, this seven year old gelded son of Rathbarry Stud stallion, Presenting, was back on a track where he last tasted success in August 2014.

Dropped out last early doors, American Legend, was hampered by the first fence demise of Amazing D'azy, who along with her jockey seemed none the worse for their mishap. With the early lead taken by Speedy Bruere, who had for company Ladfromhighworth over the first few fences, Johnson was content still in rear with no more than four lengths covering last to first. A new leader emerged over the sixth fence in Ladfromhighworth, who again was shadowed by According To Sarah, with Speedy Bruere still close up in third place, as the runners filed past the winning post first time around. Taking closer order into fourth over the 9th, Johnson sat motionless on American Legend, as again According To Sarah and Ladfromhighworth, jumped the 11th neck and neck.

Moving into third up the inside, American Legend looked to be going ominously well turning into the home straight and had moved smoothly into second place by the time they faced up to the fourth last. Taking over in front over three out from According To Sarah, Johnson pushed his mount into a two or three length lead after a sketchy jump at the second last. Looking well in control with a nice jump over the last, American Legend was pushed out to go further clear up the long run-in, eventually scoring by some seven lengths from a staying on, Finish The Story, back in second. Finish The Story had lost his weigh cloth four out and was later disqualified for drawing the incorrect weight.

Recording his fourth win in total and second over fences, this J.P. McManus owned gelding wasn't winning out of turn and off a mark of 115 still has scope for more improvement. Bred locally by Fermoy trainer and breeder, David Fenton, American Legend's grandam was Cooleogan, herself a top broodmare and tough racehorse.

Guy Upton, assistant trainer to O'Neill, went onto say, "American Legend stays all day and they went a decent pace which obviously helped him."

DANE STATES HIS CASE FOR LANE

Kilworth native and flat jockey, Martin Lane, also took his 2015 total onto the 29 winner mark with a win aboard the David Dennis trained, Danecase (20/1), who took the 11 runner Irish Stallion Farms Maiden Stakes (C5), over 6f, at Nottingham on July 17th last. Having only his third start and coming into this race after a good third to subsequent Listed winner, Tasleet, at Chepstow last time out, this two year old Showcasing colt went well to post for an in form yard.

Well away, Lane settled his mount well off the pace, in about 8th position, off what looked a good gallop set by Daleelak. Coming up the centre of the track, Danecase was always sighted travelling well in Lane's hands and ridden fully three furlongs from home, he began to make inroads into Daleelak's lead. With a huge gap opening up in front of him and a clear run, Danecase fairly devoured the ground to challenge for the lead well inside the final furlong. Getting to the front with 100yds to go, this Favourites Racing owned colt, mastered Daleelak to win readily in the end by some one and three-quarter lengths. It was a further one length back to Show Legend in third.

Looking highly progressive and costing 55,000gns as a breeze-up in April 2015, Danecase could well develop into a smart horse and this looked a highly polished performance. Lane has now ridden three winners for Dennis from just 11 rides and is one to note on the trainer's horses. David Dennis, winning trainer, went onto say, "I hoped Danecase would run well as I was delighted with his run at Chepstow last time. He was keen first time which was a surprise so we rode him the other way round at Chepstow and he settled well and is progressing for it. He has a bit of scope to make a nice three year old."

Combined UK flat/jumps 2015 = 275.



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