WEEK 19 6th-12th MAY, 2013

A total of 12 winners to report from Avondhu area locals in the UK last week. A remarkable haul when you consider the competitive nature of the racing scene in England.

21 DAYS LATER, O’MEARA BAGS 15

Fermoy native David O’Meara trained five winners for the third consecutive week in the UK.

He started on a high at Beverley when old favourite Toto Skyllachy (7/2) repeated last year’s feat of winning the same Class 4 handicap over 1m1/2f under Danny Tudhope. Recording his third win at the course and seventh in all, Toto Skyllachy had little trouble in seeing off his main rivals for an easy looking four and a half length win. He will be hard to beat if turning out again at Beverley on Tuesday under a penalty.

O’Meara’s second winner came with Grandorio (10/3) in a Class 5 handicap over 1m at Newcastle. Ridden again by Tudhope, this three year old son of Oratorio was having his first run since September and duly made all to record his second course and distance win. With plenty more to come he looks open to lots of improvement and will no doubt be turned out quickly by connections sooner rather than later.

The third winner for O’Meara and Tudhope came with Awake My Soul (4/1) on his handicap debut in a Class 3 event over 1m2f at Ripon. Following up on his maiden win at Beverley, this four year old son of Teofilo again made all the running until asserting inside the final furlong to win nicely by one and a quarter lengths. Now two from two for connections, Awake My Soul could make up into a black type horse in time. He holds an entry at York this coming Friday and could be hard to beat if showing up under a penalty.

O’Meara went on to say, “He’s a horse with an awful lot of ability. It wasn’t the plan to make it tonight, but he broke well and was a bit keen. It was an excellent ride by Danny, because the horse was looking about up the straight.”

O’Meara’s fourth and fifth winners came on the same Thirsk card. The well supported War Lord (13/8f) took a Class 6 handicap over 1m under Tudhope. Making his handicap debut off a lowly mark of 58, this Aussie Rules gelding travelled strongly through his race. Leaving last season’s maiden form well behind him, he went on to win by a neck at the line. He showed a determined attitude inside the final furlong when strongly challenged by Krupskaya (14/1). O’Meara went on to say, “War Lord was a bit weak last year, but he’s a nice horse and that was a good start.”

O’Meara and Tudhope’s fifth and final winner of the week came an hour and a half later when Roman Flight (11/4f) took a Class 4 handicap over 1m4f. This ex Charlie Swan trained five year old, was recording his second turf win from just three starts. He again was a very easy looking winner, having tracked the pace to go clear for a six length romp at the line. A hurdle winner at Cork, he looks a good dual purpose prospect with more to come in better races this summer.

From Hong Kong the previous weekend to Longchamp last weekend, where O’Meara and Tudhope went so close with Move In Time. He was unlucky to be just touched off by a head in the Group 3 Prix De Saint-Georges over the minimum 5f trip.

McLernon Fires In Three

Liscarroll jump jockey Richie McLernon rounded off a good week with three winners. The first of those wins came aboard Churchfield (3/1f) in a Class 5 novice handicap hurdle over 2m1f at Newton Abbot. Backed down from 8/1 in the morning, this Jonjo O’Neill trained five year old was making his handicap debut off a lowly mark of 85 after three ordinary efforts in novice and maiden company. Held up in rear he made good headway three out and leading at the last, went on to score decisively by five lengths from Twyford (12/1) back in second.

A half brother to the smart chaser Calgary Bay, Churchfield could make up into a good staying chaser in time.

McLernon’s second winner came again for O’Neill with Coffee (4/1j) in a Class 4 handicap hurdle over 2m1f at Market Rasen. Again well supported in the betting ring, this six year son of Beneficial was bidding to record his third win in all.

Travelling well in the hands of McLernon, Coffee could be picked the winner a long way from home and duly arrived at the last in front. He stay on strongly for a two length win from main market rival Crafty Roberto (5/1).

McLernon went on to say, “It was a falsely run race as they went no gallop early on, then quickened.” Coffee looks a different proposition on better ground and should hold his own in future races given similar conditions.

McLernon’s third winner was a spare ride. He replaced Denis O’Regan on Tindaro (9/2) in a Class 3 handicap chase over 2m at Kempton Park. Trained by Paul Webber, this grey son of Kingsalsa was given a patient ride in rear by McLernon. Travelling strongly to three out he was produced with a perfectly timed run to lead over the last and went on to win by an easy three lengths from Unforgettable (12/1) back in second.

Looking well treated on his return to handicap company, Tindaro could well be a horse on an upward curve and looks one to follow up on this success. Webber went on to say, “A fast-run race like that suits Tindaro beautifully. We’ll crack on with him now and he can run over fences or hurdles.”

HARDING FOOTS THE BILL WITH DAMASCUS

Castletownroche jump jockey, Brian Harding kick-started his 2013-14 season with two winners last week. The first came aboard Foot The Bill (9/1) for Middleham trainer, Patrick Holmes in a Class 5 handicap chase over 3m1f at Market Rasen.

Running in snatches and needing a few reminders early on, Foot The Bill got himself into contention at the fourth last. Making a mistake at the next obstacle, he led two from home and stayed on dourly up the run-in to win going away by three and a half lengths from Ifonlyalfie (7/2) back in second. Getting off the mark under rules at the ninth attempt, Foot The Bill a former Boulta Point-to-Point winner, could now go on to better things.

Harding’s second win came aboard Damascus Steel (10/3) for Denholm trainer Alison Hamilton in a Class 4 novice hurdle over 2m at Hexham. The grey five year old son of Definite Article was a point-to-point winner in February 2012 and looks a nice prospect over staying trips this season.

Tracking the leaders early on, Harding made his move approaching the second last. Leading at the final flight, Damascus Steel had a battle on his hoofs all the way up the run-in and only had a neck to spare at the line from game favourite, Island Confusion (13/8f).

LANE DULY RAY-WARDED

Kilworth flat jockey, Martin Lane was amongst the winners again last week. He got the leg up on Ray Ward (5/2f) for Newmarket handler David Simcock in a 1m2f Classified Stakes at Lingfield. This three year old son of Galileo had been gelded since his last run and held up by Lane in last, made stout progress over three out. Responding to his jockey’s urgings, Ray Ward showed a good attitude and stayed on well inside the final furlong to win by one and a half lengths from Of Course Darling (7/2) back in second.

Ray Ward is now two wins from three starts and looks a progressive type especially over this kind of trip. The Churchtown Stud bred gelding looks very adaptable, having now won on both turf and polytrack surfaces at Lingfield. He could be one to keep on the right side of this season.

Jim Hay, owner of Ray Ward said, “He’s been gelded since his last race and that has calmed him down. He was very green that day but he knows the business now.”

KENIRY EVERY BIT THE GENT

Killeagh jump jockey, Barry Keniry chalked up another win for Middleham trainer George Moore on the admirable Jack The Gent (5/4f) in a Class 4 novice chase over 2m1f at Kelso.

Recording his third win on the nine year old son of Anshan, Keniry proceeded to make all in this five runner contest. Jumping boldly, Jack The Gent showed a willing attitude when challenged by Rhymer’s Ha’ (4/1) up the home straight. He had two lengths to spare at the line and this was his second win over course and distance in the past month.

Moore went on to say, “He is a big horse, the owner likes big horses and I think he might be the biggest I have ever had, but he wants good, fast ground. All his wins have come on it, so we will carry on with him and we could look at Perth or coming back here.”