G Force raises the bar at York for trainer David O'Meara

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G Force raises the bar at York for trainer David O’Meara

A good week for Avondhu area connections abroad, with no less than 16 winners being recorded. Some notable victories included G Force taking the 19 runner Ralph Raper Memorial Stakes over 5f at York for trainer David O’Meara.

Barry O’Neill

Monday, 26 May 2014
8:15 PM GMT



WEEK 20: 12th-18th May, 2014

Another 16 individual winners for the second week running from Avondhu area locals in the UK, including winners from Davy Condon (4), David O'Meara (3), Liam Keniry (3), Jonjo O'Neill (2), Brian Harding (2), Ed Vaughan (1) and Ronnie O'Leary (1).

G FORCE RAISES THE BAR AT YORK

Fermoy native and trainer, David O'Meara, subject of a stable documentary during Channel 4's coverage of York last week, added a further three winners to his ever increasing season’s tally, which now stands at 28. With two of those winners coming at York and the third at Doncaster, all in class 3 events, it was hard to choose between the three.

But to me the most notable winner came with the impressive G Force (9/4), who took the 19 runner Ralph Raper Memorial Stakes (Hcap) (C3), over 5f at York, on May 16th last. Ridden by Danny Tudhope, this three year old son of Tamayuz, showed why he is held in such high regard back at O'Meara's Nawton base. Having only his third racecourse start after breaking the 5f course record at Newcastle last time out, G Force looks a potential group horse in the making.

Travelling strongly off a solid pace, Tudhope picked up the leaders going to the 2f marker and switched right to challenge, stormed home to devastating effect, to win by an easy looking two and a half lengths, from Speed Hawk, back in second place.

A half brother to no less than eight winners and bought from Qatar Racing for 25,000gns, G Force already looks a bargain. He will face a huge rise in the weights after this win, which may force connections down the black-type route. This race has produced some notable group winners in the past, such as Hoof It, Hamish McGonagall and last year’s winner, Moviesta. G Force could be the very horse to emulate those previous winners.

Nick Bradley, racing manager to Middleham Park Racing, owners of G Force, said, "Danny has been raving about this horse since February. He got very warm beforehand and we nearly pulled him out. He will come here probably for the valuable handicap over six furlongs, depending on what the handicapper does."

O'Meara's other two winners came in the shape of Best Of Order (4/1), who took the Betdaq 3% Commission Handicap (C3), under David Nolan, over 7f at Doncaster, on May 12th last and finally with That Is The Spirit (5/2f), who took the Conundrum Consulting Stakes (C3), under Danny Tudhope, over 7f at York, on May 14th.

CLEAN CERT FOR KENIRY AND POWELL

Killeagh native and flat jockey, Liam Keniry, continues to ride at the top of his game, following up last week’s four winners with three more, in Week 20. His most notable winning ride came aboard the Brendan Powell trained, Certavi (10/1), who took the 12 runner Chassis Cab Daf Handicap (C4), over 1m4f at Newmarket, on May 15th last.

Recording his fourth win, on this his 13th start, this gelded five year old son of Antonius Pius, looks a highly progressive horse since his return from a winter break. Held up nearer last than first by Keniry, Certavi travelled strongly through this race, making good headway to latch on to the leaders tails three furlongs from home. Shaken up to go about his job just inside the final furlong, the Nigel Davies’ owned gelding, duly passed race leader Soul Intent who had no answer to Keniry's mount. Quickening clear as the finishing line approached, Certavi won readily, by some two and three quarter lengths.

Winning here off his highest handicap mark of 81 and now 2-2 over 1m4f, Certavi looks a horse to follow over the coming weeks. He gets on particularly well with Keniry, who now has 3 wins and a second from just four rides on the gelding.

Keniry's other two winners came in the shape of the smart looking David Elsworth trained, Justice Good (7/2), who shared the spoils in a dead-heat with Dougal at Newmarket, in a Novice Stakes (C4), on May 16th last. Justice Good will now be aimed at Royal Ascot, with possibly the Coventry a mentioned target.

Keniry's final winner came aboard the ex-French, Johnny Farrelly trained Markami (8/1), who broke his maiden duck in a class 5 handicap over 1m5f, at Lingfield Park on May 12th last. Keniry now sits on the 37 winner mark for 2014.

SIXTH TIME LUCKY FOR TITCHWOOD

Castletownroche native and trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, recorded yet another brace of winners in Week 20, the most notable of which came with Titchwood (5/2f), who took the 6 runner Racing UK Handicap Chase (C3), over 2m4f at Aintree, on May 16th last.

Ridden by Tony McCoy, this six year old gelded son of Flemensfirth, was notching up his first chase win, on this, his sixth attempt. With half the field succumbing to jumping errors, Titchwood held up early doors by McCoy, was driven up to chase the leaders fully four fences from home. Warming to his task after McCoy issued a few stern reminders, Titchwood, passed the front-running Zaru going to three out. Joined over the last by Kauto Relko, Titchwood looked to have a battle on his hands. Staying on strongly under a powerful McCoy drive, the Mrs Gay Smith owned gelding proved too much for his hanging rival, going onto win by some two and a quarter lengths at the line. It was a further 20 lengths back to the third place finisher, Zaru.

Winning here off a mark of 125 and dropped back in trip after two disappointing runs, Titchwood was all the rage in the betting ring. Looking a bit quirky in second time cheekpieces, he has the option to revert back to novice company, where he could be capable of winning again under a penalty.

O'Neill's second winner came with Playing The Field (9/2), who took the Ladbroke Handicap Chase (C5) over 2m7f, at Worcester on May 14th last. Ridden again by Tony McCoy, this nine year old son of Deploy was recording just his second win, with a two year gap since he last tasted success. O'Neill now sits on the 7 winner mark for the 2014/15 jumps season.

HARDING SPARKS LIFE BACK INTO TEO

Castletownroche native and jump jockey, Brian Harding, kept up his winning flow, recording another two winners in Week 20. His most notable win came aboard the Pauline Robson trained, Teo Vivo (9/2), who took the 7 runner Perth College Novices' Handicap Hurdle (C5), over 2m at Perth, on May 14th last, this, the second leg of a double for Harding on the day.

In a race void of class, Harding, riding this horse for the first time, decided to dictate a steady pace from the front. Getting a soft lead on this seven year old son of Great Pretender, Harding quickened clear, travelling smoothly in first time blinkers, before the omitted second last. Galloping powerfully to the final flight, Teo Vivo was left in splendid isolation jumping the last. Pushed out hands and heels, he duly came home unchallenged, some nine lengths clear of Definitely Better, back in second place.

Winning here for the first time in 12 starts, Teo Vivo looked a different horse in blinkers and the former chaser looks to have found his feet off a lowly hurdle mark of 98. He looks well capable on this evidence of a quick follow up under a penalty, if reappearing at Wetherby, on May 22nd next.

Harding's second winner came aboard the Nicky Richards trained Wicked Spice (14/1), who took the Strathbraan Brewery Maiden Hurdle (C5), over 2m4f at Perth, also on May 14th. This five year old gelded son of Old Vic was winning his maiden, on only his third start and second run over hurdles. A half brother to 2014 Cheltenham Cross Country chase winner, Balthazar King, Wicked Spice's future looks that of a chaser also.

Harding was recording his 3rd and 4th winners of the 2014/15 jumps season.

ADVENTURE SEEKS AND FINDS FOR VAUGHAN

Rockmills native and trainer, Ed Vaughan, was back amongst the winners with Adventure Seeker (12/1), who took the Racing At York Handicap (C4), over 1m4f at York, on May 16th last.

Ridden by Jim Crowley, this three year son of Dalakhani was recording his second and most significant win, in this competitive 15 runner handicap. Stepped up in trip, on this his sixth start, Adventure Seeker was held up early doors by Crowley, who bided his time until entering the home straight. Coming up the centre of the track and travelling well to two out, Adventure Seeker found himself slightly baulked for room on the heels of horses. With Mairise and Ryan Moore folding in front, it was left to the strong travelling Penhill, who hit the front looking the winner at the one pole. Now in the clear, Vaughan's charge, switched left by Crowley, fairly flew home, pouncing on Penhill, to win going away by some two and a quarter lengths.

Showing vast improvement, there is no doubt that Adventure Seeker relished this step up in trip. He comes from a good family and is a half brother to group 2 winner, Laughing Lashes. Winning here off a mark of 78, life will become a lot harder now and he will find little sympathy from the handicapper, who may err on the side of caution with a rating nearer 90 for future races. Stamina looks his forte and a rise in class may bring about even more improvement.

Ed Vaughan, winning trainer, speaking to The Avondhu, said, "Adventure Seeker is going the right way. He appreciated the step up in trip and will head to Ascot for the King George V Handicap."

TAKEYOURCAPOFF TO CONDON

Curraglass native and jump jockey, Davy Condon, gets special mention this week after riding four winners at Perth from just five rides. Condon travelled over to Scotland early last week and got the leg up on five Gordon Elliott trained horses. His first winner came with Hold Em Cowboy (7/1), who took the Ninewells Neurosurgery Handicap Hurdle (C4) over 3m, on May 14th last. Turned out quickly the following day over fences, Hold Em Cowboy (11/10f), went on to take the Expro Handicap Chase (C4) over 2m5f, by an easy looking seven lengths, to complete two wins in less than 24 hours. Condon completed a double himself on May 14th, when taking the Salutation Perth Hotel Handicap Chase (C4), over 3m, aboard Killeenmore (11/8f) and a further double was chalked up on May 15th when Condon added to Hold Em Cowboy's win, by taking the Live Active Leisure Handicap Hurdle (C3) over 2m1f, aboard Takeyourcapoff (5/1).

Also special mention goes to Castlelyons native, Ronnie O'Leary, who sent Simple Assignment (10/11f) over from his Killaloe base, to take the Paxtons National Hunt Flat Race (C6), under Gavin Sheehan, over 2m1f at Sedgefield, on May 13th last. Simple Assignment was also bred by Fermoy native and trainer, David Fenton in partnership with Con Troy. His dam, Marlogan was out of Fenton's good race and broodmare, Cooleogan.

Total UK wins flat/jumps 2014 = 189; total wins Dubai = 3.



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