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An impressive double for Maurice Linehan brought his tally for the season during Week 10, to 12, with ten winners being recorded abroad by local connections.

WEEK 10 3rd-9th MARCH '14

Another 10 winners combined to report on this week from seven individual Avondhu area locals in the UK.

LINEHAN A 'GIFT' IN THE SADDLE

Fermoy native and conditional jump jockey, Maurice Linehan, was back in the thick of things, recording his 11th and 12th winners of the season. His first win came aboard the Jonjo O'Neill trained, Capote (1/1jf), in the 3 runner Racing UK Novices' Hurdle, over 2m7f at Exeter, on March 4th last.

With only two other rivals to contend with, Linehan tracked the early pace set by Saint Breiz (16/1), in what looked testing ground conditions. With main rival Chinatown Boy (1/1jf) coming under a ride well before halfway and eventually pulling up, it was left to Capote and Saint Breiz to fight this one out. Travelling with ease and never coming off the bridle, Capote took up the running approaching the third last and never looked likely to throw this one away.

Sauntering over the last two flights, Linehan will not have an easier winner all season and he had all of 25 lengths to spare over his sole rival at the finish line. Keeping his 100% record intact, this six year son of Fermoy based stallion Oscar, bred by Michael Long, looks an exciting prospect off the back of this win. Clearly relishing these conditions, he could be anything if turning his attention to chasing next season.

Maurice Linehan, speaking exclusively to The Avondhu, said "Capote, he is a very nice horse and he could go to the top."

Linehan's second winner came aboard the John Spearing trained, Barton Gift (9/4f), who took the 10 runner BetVictor.Com Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase, over 3m at Chepstow, on March 8th. Donning the famous Mercy Rimell silks, who also bred the gelding, Linehan was seen at his best on this seven year old son of Alfora. Looking booked for second place, as Camden (10/1) went some ten lengths clear going over the second last, Linehan started to sense the leader coming back to him between the last two fences. Halving the deficit approaching the last, Barton Gift mowed down Camden up the run-in, under a power packed Linehan ride and won going away in the end by some three lengths.

A brilliant ride from Linehan, would have seen most jockeys’ content with a place, but not the Fermoy man who never seems to know when he is beat.

Barton Gift was recording his second chase win from just six starts over the larger obstacles and looks a tough dour stayer in the making. Maurice Linehan, speaking exclusively to The Avondhu, said, "Barton Gift is very brave and loves a good stamina test and it was nice to ride a winner for John Spearing."

Castletownroche native and trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, went onto record a further winner in the shape of Rosslyn Castle, who took the BetVictor Novices' Handicap Hurdle (C4), under Dominic Elsworth, over 2m at Chepstow, also on March 8th. O'Neill now sits on 119 wins for the season. This rounded off a great day for Avondhu locals at Chepstow, with three winners in total.

20 UP FOR IN FORM KENIRY

Killeagh native and flat jockey, Liam Keniry, recorded yet another two winners last week, taking his season’s tally up to 20 winners and placing him in sixth position in the UK flat jockeys table.

His most notable win came aboard the Neil Mulholland trained, Adiynara (16/1), in the BetVictor App Fillies' Handicap (C5), over 1m3f at Kempton Park, on March 6th last.

With only six runners contesting this handicap, there was always the likelihood of a messy race and so it proved, with race favourite Waveguide (7/4f) taking them along at a fair lick. Keniry and Adiynara sat stalking this early frantic pace and come the three furlong pole, the race hotted up into a battle for supremacy on the front end. With stamina now coming into play, Adiynara just hit the front two furlongs out and challenged on all sides by Jewelled (7/2) and the fast finishing Ssafa (7/1), she showed guts and determination to hold on by a fast diminishing neck.

Recording her first win since a jumpers bumper at Wolverhampton in January 2013, this six year old daughter of Halling has now shown the versatility to win a bumper, two flat turf races, a hurdle race and now a flat all-weather race. Previously trained in Ireland by Michael Halford, she could have more to offer in future races on this evidence.

Keniry's second winner came again aboard a Neil Mulholland trained inmate, in the shape of The Bay Bandit (12/1), who took the Ladbrokes Handicap (C7), over 1m at Wolverhampton, on March 7th last. Recording his second course win, this seven year old son of Highest Honor, was kept busy over hurdles last autumn, winning a novice hurdle at Stratford and his ultimate aim will be the Jersey Champion Hurdle.

'HATS OFF' TO CONDON

Glengoura native and jump jockey, Davy Condon, was back amongst the winners in the UK, aboard the Gordon Elliot trained Jimmy The Hat (9/1), in the Totepool Live Handicap Chase (C3), over 2m4f at Ayr, on March 7th.

With only five runners going to post in heavy ground conditions, Condon was happy to bide his time early doors, off the back of a decent pace set by Stormin Exit (10/3). Taking closer order and making good headway to five out, Jimmy The Hat seemingly travelled best and hitting the front four out, this eight year old son of Accordion, cleared away from his rivals with a huge jump at the second last.

Allowed to saunter home after popping the last, Condon could afford to take it easy up the Ayr run-in and heavily eased inside the last 100yds, Jimmy The Hat, cheekily walked over the line, slamming his rivals by a soft looking five lengths.

Recording his first win over fences, on this his sixth start, Jimmy The Hat seemed to benefit from first time blinkers and the re-application of a tongue-tie. Both his wins have now come at Scottish tracks on contrasting ground conditions and this former Nigel Twiston-Davies trained in-mate, looks well treated on a mark of just 115. The stewards enquired into the apparent improvement in form compared to his New Year’s Day run at Fairyhouse. Davy Condon was riding his 35th winner of the season.

EDUARD LOOKS 'FUTURE CHAMPION' UNDER HARDING

Castletownroche native and jump jockey, Brian Harding, recorded yet another winner aboard the Nicky Richards trained, Eduard (3/10f), in the Totepool.Com Novices' Chases (C4), over 2m at Ayr, on March 7th.

With a disappointing turnout of just two runners, this race was there for the taking for this six year old son of Morozov. His sole rival, Imjoeking (11/4), was happy to bowl along in front, off a sensible looking pace. Taking closer order to five out, Eduard made his first significant blunder at the fourth last, losing vital ground in the process. Recovering quickly and back on the bridle, he joined Imjoeking over the third last and duly started to take command of the race. Jumping left over the second last, Harding pressed the button and his mount scampered clear going to the last. Running down the last with an assured jump, Eduard was driven out for a facile 11 length win.

Recording his fifth win from just 10 starts, Eduard looks a progressive type with an engine to boot. Nicky Richards, winning trainer, went onto say, "He wants good ground, maybe just on the easy side. If the weather is looking favourable I want to come back here for the Future Champion Novices' Chase. Eddie Melville, his owner, is a Scotsman and I'd imagine he'd like to come back up here."

Brian Harding was recording his 27th winner of the season.

O'BRIEN NOW FIRMLY 'ON LINE'

Mitchelstown native and conditional jump jockey, Paul O'Brien, recorded his fourth winner of the season aboard the Rebecca Curtis trained, Minella On Line (2/1f), in the 8 runner, Cheltenham 2014 NRNB Handicap Hurdle (C4), over 3m at Chepstow, on March 8th last.

Getting a first time leg up on this five year old son of Kings Theatre, O'Brien was content to sit handy off a steady early pace set by Heavenstown (7/2) and Maurice Linehan. With the pace slowly increasing as the race went on, Minella On Line was tanking along in behind the leader. Some sloppy jumping didn't help O'Brien's cause, but Minella On Line travelled so well he could be called the winner a long way from home.

With both he and Heavenstown going clear approaching the third last, it looked like a 1-2 for Mitchelstown and Fermoy. O'Brien sat quiet and got a huge leap from Minella On Line at the second last. Going some ten lengths clear and leaving Heavenstown in his wake, O'Brien popped the last and was left in splendid isolation all the way up the testing Chepstow run-in. He had some four lengths to spare at the line from a staying on Westerly Breeze (9/2), with Mobaasher (16/1), a further one and a half lengths back in third position.

Dropped in class and breaking his maiden tag, Minella On Line, a £50,000 purchase after finishing second in his sole point-to-point start, looks a progressive type and may make up into a better chaser than hurdler.

Paul O'Brien, winning jockey, speaking exclusively to The Avondhu, went onto say, "Minella On Line won well on Saturday, he liked the better ground and might still be well handicapped. Rebecca (trainer) said that she will send him over fences next season."

HELMSLEY A 'FLYER' FOR O'MEARA

Fermoy native and trainer, David O'Meara, recorded his 7th winner of the season with Helmsley Flyer (4/1), who under stable jockey Danny Tudhope, took the Coral Mobile Handicap (C6), over 1m4f at Wolverhampton, on March 7th.

Six runners traded blows in this moderate contest and Helmsley Flyer, known as a keen going sort, settled well in Tudhope's hands, tracking the early pace set by Rocky Rebel (8/1). With Pinotage (7/4) taking over at the head of affairs, it was Helmsley Flyer who looked to be travelling best to the two furlong pole. Stalking the leader off the home-turn, Tudhope asked his mount for more effort and Helmsley Flyer duly obliged. Challenging to the outside of Pinotage, he passed and asserted his authority on this race well before the final furlong. With only Sian Gwalia (3/1) to contend with, Tudhope kept Helmsley Flyer up to his work inside the final furlong, winning readily by an easy looking three lengths.

Recording his second win, both of which have come over course and distance, this four year son of Baltic King looks progressive and O'Meara has plenty left to work with from a handicapping perspective, with his charge winning here off a mark of 56. He will undoubtedly try and strike while the iron is hot and run this Direct Racing owned gelding quickly off a penalty in the coming days ahead.

Total UK wins 2014 = 78; Total wins Dubai = 3.

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