Eduard emulates Monet's Garden under jockey Brian Harding

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Eduard emulates Monet’s Garden under jockey Brian Harding

Jockeys Brian Harding, Martin Lane, Maurice Linehan and Paul O’Brien all recorded winners abroad during Week 15, now bringing the tally of UK wins during 2014 to 122.

Barry O’Neill

Tuesday, 22 April 2014
4:15 PM GMT



WEEK 15: 7th-13th APRIL '14

Another 7 winners combined to report on from Avondhu area locals based in the UK. The most notable winner coming from Brian Harding, on Eduard, who took the Future Champion Novices' Chase at Ayr.

EDUARD EMULATES MONET'S GARDEN UNDER HARDING

Castletownroche native and jump jockey, Brian Harding, added yet another winner to his cracking season, when taking the 5 runner Future Champion Novices' Chase (C1), aboard the Nicky Richards trained Eduard, over 2m4f at Ayr, on April 12th last.

Stepping up in trip, this six year son of Morozov was bidding to emulate Monet's Garden, who took this race in 2006, when trained again by Richards and ridden by Tony Dobbin. With a small but select field, it looked a two horse race on paper, with race favourite Valdez the only likely rival to trouble Harding's mount.

As the race progressed this scenario seemed to be playing itself out, until it became clear that Eduard was cantering all over Valdez as they entered the home straight and faced into the final line of fences. Kicking on to the third last, Eduard's solid jumping took him into a clear lead. Spring-heeled at the second last, Harding had plenty of horse under him and sailing over the final fence, Eduard romped home for an eased down 20 length win.

This looked a fair performance and nothing can be taken away from the winner. He trounced a 153 rated horse who may well have had an off day. This is top class form and Eduard looks an exciting prospect considering this was only his fourth start over fences. The sky's the limit for the Kingdom Tavern's owned gelding. Nicky Richards, winning trainer, went onto say, “I've had full confidence in that horse from the day he ran in a bumper and he's done what I thought he'd do. The Paddy Power might be tempting, but you've got to remember he’s only had four runs over fences and he's still learning his trade. He could go for the Old Roan, which is likely to be a small field, so he'd avoid any hustle and bustle."

Harding was riding his 33rd winner of the season.

BRETON ROCKS UP UNDER LANE

Kilworth native and flat jockey, Martin Lane, was back in the winners circle aboard the David Simcock trained, Breton Rock, who took the 6 runner Michael Foster Conditions Stakes (C3), over 7f at Thirsk, on April 12th last.

Recording his 5th win from just nine starts, four with Lane in the plate, this four year old son of Bahamian Bounty looks up to Graded class after this win. In a race where all runners were separated by just 4lb on official ratings, it was always going to be a tight tactical affair. With a steady early pace, set by Kenny Powers, Lane sat handy off the leaders. Stalking the pace, Breton Rock moved smoothly down the outside of runners, challenging fully two furlongs out. With race favourite, Baccarat seemingly travelling better and Tariq Too arriving on the scene to stake his claim, Lane timed his challenge well. Hitting the front just before the furlong marker, Breton Rock, was never going to relinquish this lead. Staying on strongly, he duly put the race to bed inside the last 100yds, winning by a handy looking one and quarter lengths, from Baccarat back in second place.

An admirable sort, Breton Rock is rated 103 and will surely contest a listed or Group race in time, especially if there is some give in the ground. He is now 4-5 on good to soft going and 4-8 with Lane aboard. Martin Lane, speaking exclusively to The Avondhu, said “Breton Rock was a progressive horse last year and it's good he's showing similar progress now. Soft ground is key”.

Lane was riding his 6th winner of the season.

O'MEARA'S PAINTER BRUSHES ASIDE RIVALS

Fermoy native and trainer, David O'Meara, recorded his 10th winner of the season with the game Robert The Painter, who took the 7 runner TotoTrifecta Handicap (C3), over 1m, at Nottingham on April 9th last.

Ridden by Danny Tudhope, this six year old son of Whipper was notching up a fifth win in total, off top-weight and his highest winning rating of 95. Benefiting from a hood for the second successive race, Robert The Painter showed an admirable attitude here. Tracking an early even pace in third position, Tudhope took the race by the scruff of the neck, taking over the lead from early pacesetter Malicho, well over three furlongs out. Challenged three-fold by Lord Aeryn, Multi Bene and finally Roserrow inside the final two furlongs, Robert The Painter kept finding for pressure and under a strong ride from Tudhope, he fought off all rivals one by one, winning going away by half a length.

Third in this year’s Lincoln at Doncaster, Robert The Painter looks on the up after a busy campaign which included three runs in Dubai this winter. He will find life tougher now with a likely reassessment bringing him up to 100+ in the official ratings. He looks well up to listed class on this evidence and could pick up a group race aboard.

CALAF SURPRISES EVEN LINEHAN

Fermoy native and jump jockey, Maurice Linehan, was again seen to great effect aboard fellow Avondhu native and trainer Jonjo O'Neill's, Calaf, who took the 10 runner, Betfred Novices' Handicap Hurdle (C4), over 2m, at Stratford on April 13th last.

Going to post the outsider of runners at 25/1, this six year old son of Rathbarry Stud stallion, Dubai Destination, looked in rude health going to post. Keen as ever, Linehan settled his mount in second place just off the leader, Benzanno. Jumping and travelling well, Calaf joined Benzanno upsides with a full circuit to run. With Benzanno crying enough and fading badly before the fourth last, Linehan took up the running fully three hurdles from home.

Bounding on in front, Calaf jumped the second last some two lengths clear and travelling smoothly off the home turn, strode clear approaching the last. Pinging the last, Linehan drove out his mount, to win tidy by some three quarters of a length.

Recording his 6th win in total and first over hurdles, Calaf looked well suited by forcing tactics and the drop in trip from 2m4f seemed beneficial to him. He can also mix it up on the flat and is a good dual purpose horse. His last turf flat run was a winning one and this gives connections more options going forward.

Maurice Linehan, speaking exclusively to The Avondhu, said, “Calaf jumped and travelled well. It was a bit of a surprise to win at 25/1, but they all count.”

Linehan was riding his 17th winner of the season, with O'Neill now on the 130 winner mark.

ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL FOR O'BRIEN

Mitchelstown native and jump jockey, Paul O'Brien, is starting to make a name for himself in the UK and he again was seen to good effect, aboard the Brendan Powell trained, Milans Well, who took the 15 runner, Tote Jackpot Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (C5), over 3m at Taunton, on April 10th last.

Recording his first win over hurdles and third in all, this 8 year old son of Milan returned to form with a bang here after three poor runs, since his last chase win at Wincanton, almost a year to the day. Ridden handy in second, off what looked a good pace set by Keep The Cash, O'Brien got into a good jumping rhythm, saving precious ground up the inside of runners. With fully a circuit to go, Milans Well was again upsides Keep The Cash, travelling well.

With half the field starting to feel the pinch over three out, O'Brien made his move and kicking on, he grabbed that all important rail off the final two bends of this tight track. Pushed clear into the home straight, Milans Well now had some four lengths to spare over the chasing pack. Wandering slightly in front, O'Brien sat quiet, popping the second last. Jumping the final flight some two lengths up, Milans Well responded well to his jockey’s urgings and ridden out, stayed on strongly to win by almost two lengths, from The Happy Warrior.

A well judged, intelligent ride by O'Brien, who is now catching the eye of outside trainers. Paul O'Brien, speaking exclusively to The Avondhu, said, "Milans Well jumped and stayed very well, it was a nice winner as it was my first for an outside yard."

O'Brien was riding his 7th winner of the season.

OLIVER MOUNTS WINNING CHALLENGE FOR VAUGHAN

Rockmills native and trainer, Ed Vaughan, continues in sparkling form. He recorded his 7th winner of the season from just 28 runners with Olivers Mount, who took the 12 runner Ladbrokes Handicap (C6), over 1m, at Lingfield on April 9th last.

Recording his second win, this four year old son of Mount Nelson made most of the running, under top apprentice jockey, Oisin Murphy. Heavily supported into favouritism, Olivers Mount was soon pushed up to lead early doors. Asked to quicken fully two furlongs out, Olivers Mount put some daylight between himself and the chasing pack. Still a length up entering the final furlong, Vaughan's charge started to hang slightly right, but despite this, he held on gamely at the line, to win by a neck, from Zammy.

Winning here off a mark of 54, and with the usual tongue-tie left off, Olivers Mount may be in the grip of the handicapper on reassessment. He has the option of switching back to turf in the coming weeks.

Ed Vaughan, speaking exclusively to The Avondhu, said, “Olivers Mount will possibly go to Newcastle or Brighton later in the month, but only if the ground comes up good or faster.”

Total UK wins 2014 = 122; total wins Dubai = 3.



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