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WEEK 3 - 13th- 19th JANUARY, 2014
A cracking week for Avondhu area locals with 13 winners combined, which included two grade 2 chase winners on the same Haydock card and the coming of age of up and coming jump jockey, Conor Ring, who recorded the biggest win of his career, in the Grade 2 Peter Marsh Chase.
A DAY TO REMEMBER FOR RING
Freemount native and conditional jump jockey, Conor Ring, recorded the biggest win of his fledgling career, aboard the Evan Williams trained Wychwoods Brook (16/1) in the Grade 2 Peter Marsh Chase (Hcap), over 3m1f, at Haydock on January 18th last.
Carrying 7lb more than his official handicap mark of 130, this eight year old son of Midnight Legend, was recording his second chase win, on this, just his fourth start over the larger obstacles. In what looked a very competitive renewal of this long standing handicap, ten runners lined up in very testing ground conditions.
Ridden in a prominent position by Ring, Wychwoods Brook led over the third last. Headed on landing by Vintage Star (6/1) after a mistake two out, Ring needed to be at his best in the saddle. Challenging again when untidy at the last, Wychwoods Brook stayed on strongly with the aid of the inside running rail, to win gamely by one and a half lengths, from the aforementioned Vintage Star. It was a further neck back to Merry King (9/2), who came from the clouds to finish third under Richie McLernon.
Relishing the extra distance and with the added ability to handle ground conditions, Wychwoods Brook can go on again from this, despite another likely big hike in weights.
Conor Ring, winning jockey, went onto say, "Winning this is just brilliant. It was a great day. He loved the ground and battled well from the back of the last. It was hard work but, to be fair, you have to give this horse all the credit."
Ring and Williams went onto record a double on the Haydock card, when they also took the Class 3 Tate Contracts Handicap Hurdle, over 3m, with Extreme Impact (22/1). Recording his first win in almost two years and off the track since March 2012, this has to go down as a brilliant training performance from the in-form Williams’ yard, who notched up no less than fives winners over all race cards on Saturday last. Ring was riding his 8th and 9th winners of the season.
RUTHLESS TARQUIN TO CLASSY FOR RIVALS
Castletownroche native and trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, sent out two winners from his Cheltenham base this past week. His most notable winner came with Tarquin Du Seuil (8/11f), in the Grade 2 Racing Post Social Followers Novice Chase, over 2m5f, at Haydock on January 18th last.
Ridden by Tony McCoy, this seven year old son of Voix Du Nord, was recording his first graded win over fences, on this, his fifth start. With only three other runners to contend with, in very testing ground conditions, McCoy held onto his mount, behind early pacesetter Knock A Hand (8/1). As the pace increased down the back straight, Tarquin Du Seuil was sighted travelling strongly in McCoy's hands. With Knock A Hand and O'Faolains Boy (9/4) now feeling the pinch and dropping out of contention, it was left to Coverholder (16/1) to try and rattle the cage of O'Neill's charge. But he had little or no answer to Tarquin Du Seuil, as the French-bred cantered home effortlessly, in complete control, for a bloodless win, by some 17 lengths.
Although setting the clear form standard here, Tarquin Du Seuil still looks a bit novicey at his fences. He could take in another race before Cheltenham, where the Arkle, JLT and RSA Chases are likely options. Jonjo O'Neill, winning trainer, went onto say, "That was grand, just the job. He might go for the Scilly Isles Novice Chase at Sandown if he comes out of this okay and we hope he will go to Cheltenham after that."
O'Neill's second winner came with the Tony McCoy ridden Festive Affair (10/1) in the Class 3 Betfred Goals Galore Novice Chase, over 2m1f, at Newbury on January 15th last. Making all, this former Killeagh Point-to-Point winner, showed improved form against some good opposition and can now go onto better things. O'Neill now moves onto the 107 winner mark this jumps season.
LANE HITS THE GROUND RUNNING IN DUBAI
Kilworth native and flat jockey, Martin Lane, hit the ground running with three winners last week and made the long haul to Dubai well worthwhile, when taking the Dubai Duty Free Gold World Cup (Hcap), over 1m2f, on the David Simcock trained Sheikhzayedroad (7/1), at Meydan on January 16th last.
Recording his fifth win from 14 starts and coming off a five month lay-off, this five year old son of Dubawi, picked up where he left of last season in England. Dropped out in rear by Lane, in this 12 runner contest, the race set up perfectly, with a fast pace, set by the trailblazing Energizer (6/1), who set some scorching fractions. Getting a smooth passage through the field off the home-turn, Lane galvanised his mount up the inside of runners, staying on strongly up the rail, for a convincing looking one and a quarter length win, from Aussie Reigns (14/1) back in second place. Still looking progressive, Sheikhzayedroad looks a horse to keep on the right side of this season.
Lane went onto record another two winners back in England, both of which again were trained by Simcock. This included a win aboard Birdman (25/1) in the Class 2 Ladbrokes Handicap, over 1m, at Lingfield on January 18th last and a further win aboard Can't Change It (3/1), who broke his maiden tag on just his second start, in the Class 5 32Red Maiden, over 1m, also on the same Lingfield card. Lane now moves onto 4 winners for the 2014 season.
VAUGHAN KEEPS WINNERS FLOWING FOR KENIRY
Rockmills native and trainer, Ed Vaughan, teamed up with jockey Liam Keniry when taking the Class 6 Coral.Co.Uk Handicap, with Whitby Jet (8/1), over 1m2f, at Lingfield on January 17th last.
Recording his fourth win in total and second at the track, this six year old son of Mujahil took advantage of a falling handicap mark (64) and a class drop, to win quite cosily in the end.
Held up off a good pace and always travelling well, Keniry had to bide his time while the race developed off the home turn. Challenging up the centre of runners and getting clear daylight at the one pole, Whitby Jet mowed down race favourite, Tiger Reigns (7/4f) inside the final 100yds, to win easily by two lengths from Brave Decision (8/1) back in second place.
Whitby Jet looks a likely contender for a quick follow up off a penalty on this evidence. Liam Keniry, winning jockey, went onto say, “Ed told me this morning that this was his first run in this grade for a while. I got a lovely trip from a good draw and I always thought I was going to win”.
Keniry followed up Whitby Jet's win with a double on the same Lingfield card, taking the Class 6 Coral Mobile Selling Stakes, with A Little Bit Dusty (5/4f), over 1m4f, for Irish trainer Conor Dore. Adding a further winner aboard the David Simcock trained Modernism (6/1), in the Class 4 Coral App Handicap over 1m1f, at Wolverhampton, on January 16th last, there is no jockey in better form than Keniry. He now moves onto the 8 winner mark for 2014. Vaughan was recording his second winner in 2014 from just 9 runners.
TUTCHEC RACKS UP FOUR TIMER UNDER HARDING
Castletownroche native and jump jockey, Brian Harding, recorded his 18th winner of the season, aboard the Nicky Richards trained Tutchec (4/1), in the Class 3 Carraway Finance Handicap Chase, over 3m, at Newcastle on January 15th last.
Winning his fourth chase on the bounce and fifth in all, this grey seven year old son of Turgeon, was defying a handicap high mark of 123, having started his winning sequence off 97 back in October 2013. With only four runners going to post, Harding sat close up early doors, travelling well. Chasing down the early pacesetter Fentara (5/1), who managed to blundered her way through the second last, left the door open for Tutchec to go clear to the last. With the race seemingly in the bag, Tutchec met the last all wrong, ending up on his nose, giving Fentara another bite of the cherry. But gathered up by Harding, Tutchec had plenty left in the tank, staying on well, to win going away by five lengths.
Nicky Richards, winning trainer, went onto say, “He wants a big track and I might see if there is a 3m chase at Ayr or Carlisle. I will have to put him in with the bigger boys, but he will be better again next year”.
WOLF BACK ON SONG UNDER KENIRY
Killeagh native and jump jockey, Barry Keniry, was back in the winners enclosure aboard the George Moore trained Wolf Shield (3/1), in the Class 4 North Sea Logistics Handicap Hurdle, over 3m, at Newcastle on January 15th last.
Recording his fourth win in total and second at the track, this seven year old son of King's Theatre, returned to winning ways, having hardly raised a gallop on his last four starts. Dropped 10lbs to his last winning handicap mark of 110, Keniry's mount was seen to good effect in testing ground conditions, getting the better of Romany Ryme (4/1) by one and a quarter lengths close home, in what turned into a protracted dual up the long Newcastle run-in. Showing a good attitude after being headed over the second last, Moore's charge will be of interest in future races, if the handicapper isn't too harsh on him. George Moore, winning trainer, went onto say, “Two weeks ago he galloped with a camera down him to see if anything was amiss. His Doncaster run last time was not a bad run and he has just come right today”. Barry Keniry was recording his 9th winner of the season.
Total UK wins 2014, 22; total wins Dubai, 1.
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