Jonjo O’Neill only three shy of century mark

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Jonjo O’Neill only three shy of century mark

Now into mid April and combined winners for 2015 stands at 124 for area connections abroad – Week 15 seeing 7 winners in total recorded.

Barry O’Neill

Wednesday, 22 April 2015
12:05 PM GMT



WEEK 15: MONDAY, 6 APRIL – SUNDAY, 12 APRIL

This week we have 7 winners combined to report on from 6 individuals in the UK. We feature a Grade 1 Aintree winner for Glengoura jockey, Johnny Burke, along with winners from Fermoy native, David O'Meara; Castletownroche native, Jonjo O'Neill; Glanworth native, Shane Quinlan; Kilworth native, Martin Lane and Liscarroll native, Richie McLernon. Our combined total for 2015 now sits on 124 winners.

EASTER MONDAY, APRIL 6TH (Winners 118, 119 & 120)

Castletownroche native and trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, is now three winners off his century, after adding a 97th winner of the season with the Will Kennedy ridden, Clubs Are Trumps (11/4jf), who took the 6 runner, Quinto Cranes And Plants H'cap Chase (C5), over 24f, at Huntingdon.

Bidding to follow up his recent win over course and distance, this six year old gelded son of Flemensfirth faced the starter with just a 3lb penalty in similar ground conditions. Tracking the early pacesetter, Cosway Spirit, in second place, off a searching looking gallop, Clubs Are Trumps jumped conservatively on the first circuit as he was joined to his inside by the strong travelling By The Boardwalk going out on the final circuit. With three horses - Cosway Spirit, Clubs Are Trumps and By The Boardwalk - going clear of their toiling rivals over four out, this race was on in earnest down to the third last. A blunder in front by Cosway Spirit at this fence knocked him back upsides his pursuers, with none going as well as By The Boardwalk.

Off the home turn and with only one fence to jump, On The Boardwalk took a clear advantage from Cosway Spirit with Clubs Are Trumps looking booked for a forlorn third. Some eight lengths down at the last, Kennedy sensed something no one else could see as he switched his mount left for one last effort. With the leader tiring rapidly in front, Clubs Are Trumps rallied to the cause and flew home to reel in By The Boardwalk right on the line in a dramatic finish. Cosway Spirit snatched second away from the empty By The Boardwalk, back in third.

Recording his second win in pulsating fashion, Clubs Are Trumps benefited from an inspired Will Kennedy ride. If he keeps winning like this the handicapper can't punish him too much. With stamina seemingly his forte and rated only 98 before this win, this J.P. McManus owned gelding should not be inconvenienced by stepping up to marathon trips. Will Kennedy, winning rider, said, “Clubs Are Trumps jumps well, battles and stays. Last time here he missed the final fence and still won, but I never thought I was getting there today.”

Fermoy native and trainer, David O'Meara, recorded his 11th winner of 2015, with the David Nolan ridden Risk 'N' Reward (5/1), who went onto take the 12 runner Racing UK Classified Selling Stakes (C6), over 7f, at Redcar.

Having only his second turf start after a busy winter all weather campaign, this four year old gelded son of Dandy Man was burdened with a welterweight of 9-10 in this competitive seller. Held up towards the rear early doors as Whispered Times and Naabegha duelled for the lead, Risk 'N' Reward was asked to take closer order passing the halfway mark and switched to the centre to challenge, he began to close in on the front pair nearing the two furlong marker.

Coming out of the mist, Risk 'N' Reward joined and headed both Naabegha and Whispered Times just inside the final furlong. Staying on well, he faced one more serious challenge inside the final 100yds, as Secret City came storming down his outside. Needing the line, Risk 'N' Reward was all out to hold on by the shortest of winning margins, a nose, from Secret City. It was a further three quarters of a length back to Whispered Times in third.

Recording his third win in only six starts for O'Meara, Risk 'N' Reward looks open to improvement considering his lack of turf experience. All his three wins have now come in 2015.

Glanworth native and conditional jump jockey, Shane Quinlan, continues to make a name for himself, as he rode his fourth winner of the season, from just his 17th ride, aboard the David Dennis trained, Maller Tree (13/8f), who took the 8 runner Peterborough School Conditional Jockeys' H'cap Hurdle (C4), over 21.5f, at Huntingdon.

Bidding to follow up his Newton Abbot win only two days earlier, this eight year old gelded son of Karinga Bay set out to make all under Quinlan, setting a nice even tempo through the early stages. Joined and hassled by the strong travelling Borguy, going out on the final circuit Quinlan lifted the pace again, as half the field began to struggle, well past the halfway point. Jumping clean and quick in front, Maller Tree went to three out with a race on his hands, as Borguy shadowed him, looking to be going equally as well.

Off the home turn and facing up to two out, this race now developed into a two horse war. With Borguy just edging ahead coming to the second last, disaster struck as the leader took an x-rated fall, leaving Maller Tree and Quinlan clear going down over the last. Ridden and kept up to his work inside the final furlong, Maller Tree galloped on lazily, to win by an easy looking five lengths, from He's A Bully back in second. It was a further one and a half lengths back to Chance Taken in third.

Recording his 8th win from 43 starts, this Favourites Racing Ltd. owned gelding is enjoying a bit of a renaissance. Rated 138 in his prime, he was winning here off 110 and could easily score again in the next week or so. Quinlan finds himself in the up and coming, in form yard of David Dennis, who sent out four winners from seven Easter Monday runners and five winners from his last 10 runners. Opportunities will come aplenty for the Glanworth native.

Shane Quinlan, speaking to The Avondhu, said, “It was great he backed up his win from two days ago. Maller Tree is only a small, but tough and loves his racing.”

TUESDAY, APRIL 7TH (121)

Kilworth native and flat jockey, Martin Lane, rode his 11th winner of 2015, aboard the Charlie Appleby trained, Emirates Skywards (11/10), who went onto take the 4 runner Toteswinger Maiden (C5), over 13.5f, at Chlemsford.

Off the track almost five months, this gelded three year old son of Dubawi, was upped in trip in a first time visor, after three second placings in as many starts, in two year old turf maidens at the back end of last season. Looking a match on paper between race favourite Havisham (5/6f) and Emirates Skywards, this contest became a tactical affair as Havisham set out to make all under David Probert. With a steady if sedate pace early doors, Lane settled his mount up the inside of runners in second place, while Bourbondi, in last at the time, was rushed up to join issue with the leader.

Happy to bide his time as the pace began to lift going to the half mile marker, Lane was the first of the two market leaders to come under a ride. Ridden strongly at the three pole, Emirates Skywards was back in second place chasing down Havisham, who looked to be going much the better. Switched right to challenge off the home turn, Lane began to get a response from his mount who joined Havisham down the outside and steadily began to draw away from that rival well inside the final furlong. Going on strongly to the line, Emirates Skywards had two and a quarter lengths to spare from Havisham back in second place.

Recording his first win, this Godolphin owned gelding will face stiffer tasks in handicaps going forward. He can keep on improving into the summer but with his rating already at 83, there isn't much scope to improve. Martin Lane, riding his 11th winner for Appleby, speaking to The Avondhu, said, “He's a horse who ran well in three starts last year and has been gelded since. He found improvement for that and won quite nicely.”

SATURDAY, APRIL 11TH (122)

Glengoura native and jump jockey, Johnny Burke, rode his 54th and most high profile winner of the season, aboard the Henry De Bromhead trained, Sizing Granite (9/2), who took the 6 runner, Grade 1 Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Chase, over 16f, at Aintree.

Going into this race a highly progressive young chaser, this seven year old gelded son of Grange Stud stallion, Milan, was bidding to make the crossover into Grade 1 company, a task failed by many in the past.

Ridden handy by Burke early doors, off a solid pace set by Art Maureque, Sizing Granite always looked to travel and jump well and if anything, they weren't going quick enough for him in front. With his rivals making errors behind and the leader there to be shot at, Burke made his move after jumping three out. Tanking up to Art Maureque approaching two out, Sizing Granite was soon in front between the last two fences. With race favourite God's Own looking the only serious threat after Court Minstrel blundered away his chance at the last, Sizing Granite set off up the run-in after pinging the last and stayed on well to repel God's Own by a length at the line.

A punch in the air from Burke said it all and this winner will no doubt put him on the map amongst the elite of jump jockeys for years to come. Recording his 4th chase win from just five starts, this Ann and Alan Potts owned gelding looks likely to miss Punchestown and is an exciting prospect to look forward to next season.

Henry de Bromhead, winning trainer said, “Sizing Granite was brilliant there, really good and he was given a great ride by Johnny. We will look at the 2m graded chases next season and see how he progresses.”

SUNDAY, APRIL 12TH (123 & 124)

Castletownroche and Liscarroll natives, Jonjo O'Neill and Richie McLernon, teamed up with the J.P. McManus owned Favoured Nation (11/4f), who went onto take the 6 runner Racing UK H'cap Chase (C4), over 22.5f, at Market Rasen.

Well supported in the ring and bidding to go one better than his Kempton second last time out, this eight year old gelded son of Milan, was dropped into third off a good pace, set by Mister Wiseman. Jumping and travelling well passing the halfway point, McLernon took closer order as Cape York took over in front jumping the last in the back straight. Coming onto the heels of Cape York along with the strong travelling Smart Catch, Favoured Nation looked booked for second place going over three out.

With Smart Catch going some two lengths up over two out, McLernon switched his mount to challenge and steadily wore into Smart Catch's lead. Coming upsides approaching the last, Favoured Nation jumped clean and straight, landed running and forged clear up the run-in. Winning easily in the end by some ten lengths from a tiring Smart Catch, Favoured Nation looks to have got his jumping and confidence back. Winning here off his highest mark of 115, he has the ability to defy a penalty next time out.

Recording his third chase win from 8 starts, he has now won three of his four races on right-handed tracks. O'Neill now moves just two off a century of winners, while McLernon was riding his 17th winner of the season. Richie McLernon, speaking to The Avondhu, said, “Favoured Nation jumped as good as he ever has and I think this helped him up the home straight.”

There was no local joy or fairytale endings in this year’s Grand National, with Jonjo O'Neill doing best in coming fifth with Tony McCoy's final National ride on Shutthefrontdoor. Glengoura native, Davy Condon, had a bad fall off Portrait King, three out, when running a fine race and spent a night in hospital in Liverpool. Our best wishes go out to him and fingers crossed he should be fine.

Combined UK flat/jumps 2015 = 124.



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