Group 1 winner for David O’Meara with Move In Time

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Group 1 winner for David O’Meara with Move In Time

Castletownroche native and trainer, Jonjo O’Neill stays on top of the trainers championship table with 47 wins, following 3 winners in Week 40, while a notable victory for David O’Meara, who continues his hot streak of form.

Barry O’Neill

Wednesday, 15 October 2014
12:05 PM GMT



WEEK 40: OCTOBER 29th-5th, '14

For the fifth week in a row we have a big race winner to report on, with the David O'Meara trained, Move In Time, who won the Group 1 Prix d'Abbaye at Longchamp last Sunday. A further 7 winners last week takes our combined total for 2014 to 377 winners.

MOVE DOES IT THIS TIME AROUND AT HIGHEST LEVEL FOR O'MEARA

Fermoy native and trainer, David O'Meara, recorded his second group 1 winner in as many months, when the Danny Tudhope ridden Move In Time (31/1), took the 18 runner, Prix De d'Abbaye (G1), over 5f at Longchamp, on October 5th last. Having previously run well twice in group 3 company over course and distance, this home-bred six year old gelded son of Monsieur Bond, came into this hot sprint off the back of five second placings in a row.

Seemingly badly drawn in 12, Tudhope got a good posse on breaking from the stalls, as Stepper Point and Cotai Glory blazed a trail up front. Needing luck in running in a rough house race, Move In Time was sighted just off the pace, going well and needing an out. That gap came just at the right time as Rangali hit the front well inside the final furlong. Ridden strongly to challenge, Tudhope sensed hope and staying on dourly, Move In Time eyed-balled Rangali as the pair flashed past the post in unison.

As usual with the Longchamp sprint course, the camera angle was behind the post but low and behold Move In Time had stuck his head out where it counted, getting the verdict by a head from Rangali, with Moviesta another head back in third.

Recording his 7th win in total, Move In Time is just as effective at 6f and will no doubt be campaigned at the highest level from now on. Options are aplenty for this game sprinter, especially abroad and he will no doubt be given every opportunity to push more boundaries.

David O'Meara, winning trainer, went onto say, "That was a huge effort. I wasn't sure if he had it passing the line. He's been very solid and finished second a lot this season. He's ran well here in the past and it's great for the owners who bred him."

Danny Tudhope, winning rider, said, "I can't believe it, he's been beaten into second twice here so it was nice to get him up on the line. I managed to get a gap and when it came I went for it. I'm delighted for the team."

O'Meara moves onto the 111 winner mark in the overall GB Flat Championship for 2013-14 and holds 9th position in that table.

NED SIMPLY OOZES CLASS UNDER HARDING

Castletownroche native and jump jockey, Brian Harding, continues to ride with zest and added two further winners in Week 40, taking his season’s tally onto the 16 winner mark. His most notable winner came in the shape of the Nicky Richards trained, Simply Ned (15/8f), who won the 5 runner, NSPCC School Handicap Chase (C2), over 2m1f, at Kelso on October 5th last.

Returning to the racecourse fresh since last sighted finishing second behind Balder Success in the Grade 1, Doom Bar Maghull Novices Chase at Aintree last April, this seven year old gelded son of Fruits Of Love, was bidding to defy an all time high handicap mark of 157.

Dropped out in rear early doors, off what looked a solid pace, set firstly by Scotch Warrior and then Kumbeshwar, Simply Ned bided his time, travelling and jumping well, some six lengths off the pace. With the race hotting up past halfway and playing right into his hands, Harding made serene progress up the inside of runners, taking much closer order five from home. With Swift Arrow taking over at the head of affairs off the hometurn, Harding moved smoothly into second place, stalking the leader. Content to sit and wait until after jumping the second last, Harding made his move between the last two jumps. Picking up the leader easily, Simply Ned went on in front over the last fence and effortlessly strode on up the run-in, winning by an easy looking two and a quarter lengths, from a staying on again Scotch Warrior, back in second place.

Recording his 7th win from 18 starts, Simply Ned looks a serious Grade 1 two mile chaser in the making and has surely now earned his chance to take on the big boys in future top class chases. Nicky Richards, winning trainer, said, "That was a fine start to the season for him. He jumped well and they went a fair gallop. The plan is to run him in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham next month."

Harding went to record a second winner, aboard Peachy Moment (3/1), also for trainer Nicky Richards, who took the Seaton Carew Handicap Chase (C4), over 2m4f, at Sedgefield on September 30th last.

THE NEPHEW BOSSES RIVALS FOR ON SONG O'NEILL

Castletownroche native and trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, added a further three winners in Week 40 which keeps him on top of the trainers championship table with 47 wins. His most notable winner came with the Tony McCoy ridden, The Nephew (11/4f), who took the 6 runner, MTS Services Handicap Chase (C3), over 2m6f, at Fontwell on October 4th last.

Sent to post eventual race favourite, this six year old gelded son of Indian River, came here off the back of a confidence boosting hurdle run at Market Rasen, towards the end of August. Back over the larger obstacles, The Nephew set out to make all off a steady gallop and proceeded to dominate this race from a very positive McCoy in the saddle. Jumping boldly when asked to come out of his jockey’s hands, The Nephew seemed to ignite around this quirky figure of eight track.

Going out on the final circuit his jumping took him some six lengths clear of the field and had his main market rival, Up For An Oscar, who never travelled, in trouble a long way from home. With Up For An Oscar pulling up, The Nephew made his one and only mistake at the fourth last, which could have proved costly, as Violet’s Boy stalked him menacingly off the turn for home. Gathered up again by McCoy, The Nephew now had a battle on his hands. Jumping the second last well and still some two lengths up, O'Neill's charge was joined upsides by Violet’s Boy over the last fence. Answering all of McCoy's urgings he kept finding for pressure all the way to the line, eventually going on to win by one and a quarter lengths.

Recording his fifth win from just 12 starts over fences, The Nephew was winning here off 130 and will no doubt find life harder again once reassessed. All his wins have now come on good ground. Tony McCoy, winning rider, said, "The track suited him as he is a little quirky and his will to win has been questioned. He was very brave today to be fair to him."

O'Neill went onto record a further two winners in the shape of the Jack Savage (10) ridden, Tarvini (8/1), who took the Unibet Handicap Hurdle (C4), over 3m, at Chepstow on September 30th last and Finding Your Feet (13/8f), who won the Hague Print Handicap Hurdle (C4), over 2m5f, at Warwick on October 2nd, under Tony McCoy.

PENNY DROPS FOR BOY UNDER KENIRY

Killeagh native and flat jockey, Liam Keniry, recorded his 54th winner of 2014 aboard the Sylvester Kirk trained, Penny's Boy (9/2), who took the 6 runner, Inspire Foundation Claiming Stakes (C5), over 1m2f, at Salisbury, on October 1st last.

Coming here off the back of a good second in a similar claiming race last time out, this three year old gelded son of Firebreak, recorded his third win from 15 starts on turf and showed a good attitude in the process. Tracking the early pace, Keniry settled his mount well in fifth position up the inside of runners, as Rough Courte led the way.

Travelling well on the turn for home, Keniry moved his mount off the rail to challenge between both Tobacco Road and Elysian Prince going to the one pole. Squeezing through the gap, Penny's Boy hit the front just inside the final furlong but couldn't shake off the game Tobacco Road, who drew upsides and possibly poked his head in front with 50yds to go. All out, Penny's Boy made one last effort to repel his rival and duly put his head down where it mattered, right on the line, winning by just a short head.

Well treated at the weights in this claimer, Penny's Boy had every right to win here and may thread a similar path in future races. Rated 72 in handicaps, he seems to struggle in higher class 4 events, but holds his own in this kind of company. Liam Keniry, winning rider, said, "He took his chance when the gap came, so is an honest horse. This trip looks about right for him."

VAUGHAN'S REAFFIRMED GOING THE RIGHT WAY

Rockmills native and trainer, Ed Vaughan, continues in good form, adding yet another winner in Week 40, with the Luke Morris ridden, Reaffirmed, who took the 11 runner Racing UK App Handicap (C6), over 6f, at Kempton Park on October 2nd last. Bidding to follow up his breakthrough win at Wolverhampton last time out, this three year old gelded son of Pivotal did things the hard way here, from an uncompromising position early doors.

Slow to break, Morris found himself in second last position in this sprint, off a solid enough pace, set by Coiste Bodhar. Travelling well in rear, Reaffirmed switched to the inside rail finding himself well back in the field on entering the home straight. Waited with patiently by Morris, this race opened right up on reaching the cut away and none travelled better than Vaughan's charge. Sighted making smooth progress on the bit fully two furlongs out, Reaffirmed swooped down the outside of runners to take this race, only to find Varsovian coming with him, going just as well. Both horses then knuckled down to fight out a brilliant finish, head to head, all the way to the line. All out, Reaffirmed got up on the nod to take his all weather score to two wins from just three starts.

He looks to be getting the hang of things now and is settling much better having proved a tricky customer in the past. He seems to need a pace to aim at and may have just been doing enough once hitting the front. Winning here off a mark of 61, he can go on from this and may well complete a hat-trick if the handicapper doesn't induce a class rise over 65.

Ed Vaughan, speaking to The Avondhu, said, "They went very fast from the gates and this was a very pleasing performance. I will wait to see what the handicapper does and make a plan from there."

UK flat/jumps 2014 = 370; Dubai = 3; Ireland = 2; Canada = 1; France = 1.



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