Jonjo O’Neill back in winners’ enclosure

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Jonjo O’Neill back in winners’ enclosure

2015 is moving along nicely for Avondhu area connections, with Jonjo O’Neill recording three winners during Week 2, while Brian Harding and Liam Keniry also paid a visit to the winners’ enclosure.

Barry O’Neill

Wednesday, 21 January 2015
12:40 PM GMT



WEEK 2: MONDAY, 5 JANUARY - SUNDAY, 11 JANUARY

Another 5 winners to report on from Avondhu area locals competing in the UK, with Jonjo O'Neill back amongst the winners after a lean spell. Our combined total to date for 2015 now sits on 11 winners.

COWLEY FIRST COMMITS CLAN TO CHELTENHAM

Castletownroche native and trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, had a welcome return to the winners’ enclosure after a barren spell which hadn't seen a winner from Jackdaws since November 19th last. He recorded three winners, taking his seasonal total onto the 61 winner mark, the most notable of which came from the Patrick Cowley (10) ridden, Join The Clan (8/1), who won the 11 runner Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (C2), over 26f, at Warwick on January 10th last.

Having dropped a long way in the weights from 135 to 122 and with the added 10lb claim of Cowley coming off, Join The Clan was effectively running off 112 here, this been his last winning mark and he looked thrown in if reproducing any hint of the ability he definitely possesses. Dropped out in rear early doors, as both Closing Ceremony (6/1) and An Poc Ar Buile (8/1) took each other on for the lead, Cowley was happy to sit and bide his time with fully two circuits of this gruelling contest to go.

With Closing Ceremony left in an uncontested lead after An Poc Ar Buile made a swift exit, blundering and unseating his rider at the third flight, Cowley became well aware of the loose horse who switched to his inside, forcing him back into last position passing the winning post going out on the final circuit. Closing back onto the heels of the field after jumping the next flight, Join The Clan grabbed hold of the bit as the pace notably increased going into the back straight. Catching the eye, Cowley made a sweeping move through runners and found himself travelling well into second place jumping three out.

Kicking for home at the end of the back straight, the pair suddenly bounded some six lengths clear of Closing Ceremony as they entered the final turn into the home straight. Looking to steal this race with an unassailable advantage, Cowley was committed even though his mount idled and wandered about approaching the second last. A slow jump there gave Closing Ceremony a chance going down to the last. Jumping the last well, Join The Clan had plenty in reserve and once he grabbed the running rail, he picked up again, going onto win by some three and three-quarter lengths at the line, from a game Closing Ceremony back in second place. It was a further two lengths back to Vandross (20/1) in third.

A great day for young Cowley who was riding his first winner under rules in the colours of J.P. McManus and in front of the Channel 4 cameras. Join The Clan, a six year old gelded son of Fermoy based stallion Milan, was recording his second win and now qualifies for the Pertemps final at the Cheltenham festival in March, a race O'Neill has won in the past with Holywell, who incidentally finished second in this race back in 2012 on the road to Cheltenham glory. Join The Clan looks to relish a test of stamina in testing ground conditions and we may not see the best from him until he sees a fence.

Patrick Cowley, winning rider, speaking to The Avondhu, said "Join The Clan gave me a great spin around and he's a horse I will always remember. It was unbelievable to get my first winner on a Saturday and on Channel 4."

O'Neill went onto record a further two winners. They were the Tony McCoy ridden, Rose Revived (8/1), who took a Mares National Hunt Flat Race (C5), over 14f, at Ludlow on January 7th.

O'Neill's final winner came with the admiral Lost Legend (12/1), who took the William Hill Handicap Chase (C3), over 20.5f, at Kempton Park also on January 10th. Special mention to his jockey Will Kennedy who gave Lost Legend an inspired ride to win by a short head. Winning over course and distance for the second time, Lost Legend has now won five chases from just 13 chase starts.

GLINGER BURNS BRIGHT FOR HARDING

Castletownroche native and jump jockey, Brian Harding, continues riding winners unabated and he recorded his 39th winner of the season, aboard the Nicky Richards trained Glingerburn (11/4), who went onto take the 11 runner, Betdaq National Hunt Novices' Hurdle (C4), over 16.5f, at Doncaster on January 9th last.

Bidding to follow up his debut hurdle win over course and distance back in November, this seven year old gelded son of King's Theatre, had a much stiffer task on his hoofs here with two last time out winners in opposition. Settled in rear off a steady early pace set by Alphabet Bay (16/1), Harding's mount was somewhat keen in the opening section of this race and was helped no doubt by Some Buckle (7/4f), who took on and headed the leader briefly over the third flight.

Back in front again and revved up, Alphabet Bay, strode on into a clear five length lead, stringing out the field in the process, which in effect helped Glingerburn settle. Looking as if the leader was doing too much in front and seeing the danger of a stretched field, Harding made stealthy progress into fourth, down the far side, before the turn into the home straight. With the field now well strung out in single file off the home turn bend, Alphabet Bay began to paddle in front approaching three out. Passed at that obstacle by a relentless Some Buckle, who strode on into the lead, Alphabet Bay faded as the rest of the stalkers closed in for the kill.

Making smooth progress into second place, Glingerburn made a mess of the second last with a sloppy novice jump and needed strong handling from his jockey to gather in Some Buckle going down to the last. Joining and heading Some Buckle over the last, Glingerburn still looked green and wandered left off a true line giving Some Buckle another chance. Headed again by the determined race favourite, Glingerburn showed guts when it mattered most, rejoining Some Buckle and forcing his head in front right on the line.

A game performance from the winner, Glingerburn hails from a good family which includes half brothers and smart hurdlers Aegean Dawn and Fleet Dawn and a mother who herself is a half sister to Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Cool Dawn. With his trainer quick to point out that he wasn't fully wound up for this run, the James Westoll owned gelding could have a lot more to offer going forward.

Nicky Richards, winning trainer, went onto say, "Glingerburn is a nice horse still learning his job. We were only ticking him over and wondered after he won here last time out whether to leave him till the spring. With the ground coming up good here we decided to come and he's having a good blow. We might look at the Morebattle Hurdle next month."

MULTI UP TO THE TASK UNDER KENIRY

Killeagh native and flat jockey, Liam Keniry, recorded his first winner of 2015, aboard the Michael Madgwick trained Multitask (4/1), who took the 8 runner, Unibet Handicap (C5 0-75), over 6f, at Lingfield Park (AW) on January 7th last.

Returning to his favoured track, off the back off two good Kempton runs, this five year old gelded son of Multiplex looked to have a great chance, if the cards fell his way, in what looked a competitive heat for the grade. Dropped in as per usual nearer last than first, Keniry would have hoped for a strong pace to aim at in order to utilise his mount’s closing turn of foot, which had been so effective in past races.

With Monarch Maid (16/1) poaching an early lead off what looked a solid pace, it was all systems go, as Multitask switched to track the field to the outside of runners. Poised in the perfect stalking position as the pace lifted at the three pole, Multitask was sighted travelling easily in Keniry's hands. Switched to challenge widest of all entering the home straight, Keniry stoked up his hooded mount hands and heels, easily picking up the field. Anxious not to get there too soon he duly arrived upsides Monarch Maid with less than 100yds to go. Pushed out to edge his head in front, Multitask was always just doing enough to win readily by a neck at the line. It was another one and three-quarter lengths back to the third placed horse, Top Offer (7/2).

Looking to win here with a little up his sleeve, Multitask has now won five times from just 13 starts at Lingfield. All his 7 wins have now come on a synthetic surface and he was winning here off his highest winning handicap mark of 74. Multitask has built up a good partnership with Keniry, the pair now winning on four occasions. Having won the Sprint Series Final, a higher class event, over course and distance last February, Multitask may have plenty more to offer. This may even go down close to a career best performance and he is a credit to all concerned.

UK flat/jumps 2014 = 11.



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