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Local connections continue to keep the flag flying in the UK.

WEEK 42 - 14th-20th OCTOBER 2013

Liscarroll native and jump jockey, Richie McLernon, recorded his biggest win of the season aboard the Jonjo O'Neill trained Johns Spirit (5/1), in a class 2 handicap chase, over 2m4f, at Cheltenham, on October 19th last.

In what looked a highly competitive 16-runner event, Johns Spirit a six year old gelded son of Goldwell, was heavily supported in the market and looked to be given a fair chance by the handicapper, with a four pound ratings drop to 129.

Dropped out last by McLernon, off a steady pace set by Sew On Target (25/1), Johns Spirit jumped well early doors and was lucky not to be severely hampered by Vino Griego (16/1), who departed company with his rider, Jamie Moore, at the ninth fence. Making steady progress and seemingly tanking along down the far side, McLernon took closer order and closed right up into fifth place going to the third last. A slight error at that obstacle didn't halt his momentum and going to the second last, none were going better than O'Neill's charge.

Jumping the second last well and landing just about in front, Johns Spirit forged on to the final fence full of running. He duly pinged the last and stormed up the Cheltenham hill with McLernon barely breaking sweat, as his mount won readily by three and a half lengths from Rob Conti (16/1) back in second place.

A taking performance by the Christopher Johnston owned chaser, who will now undoubtedly be aimed at the Paddy Power Gold Cup. The handicapper won't make his life any easier either, but at least the option to try a graded chase is now there.

Richie McLernon, speaking to The Avondhu, went onto say, “Johns Spirit settled great and jumped brilliantly. He's grown up an awful lot over the summer and well done to all the team, who have done a great job with him at home.”

Castletownroche native and trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, went on to record another three winners last week and his Jackdaws stable have now hit the 70 winner mark for the 2013-14 jumps season.

Those winners were, Oscar Fortune (4/1), who won a Class 4 Novice Hurdle, over 2m4f, at Huntington; Flemenson (11/4), who also won a Class 4 Novice Hurdle, over the same distance, at Uttoxeter and finally, Twirling Magnet (7/1), who went on to win a good Class 2 Novice Chase, over 3m, again at Cheltenham. All three winners were ridden by champion and stable jockey, Tony McCoy.

LANE, FLYING FIRST CLASS, CONTINENTAL

Kilworth native and flat jockey, Martin Lane, recorded yet another brace of winners last week, the most notable coming aboard the two year old filly Continental Drift (16/1), in a Class 5 Fillies' Maiden over 6f, at Kempton Park, on October 16th last.

Trained by Roger Charlton and sporting the famous Khalid Abdullah silks, Continental Drift, making her debut, was dropped out early doors by Lane in this 11-runner contest. Running green off a good pace set by Setai (7/1), Lane sat quiet in third last position and bided his time. Turning off the home turn, fully three furlongs out and Lane made his move. Gathering in runners one by one, Continental Drift now knew what was required. Given daylight and a straight run up the middle of the track, she duly mowed down Minnaloushe (6/1), who got first run on her, to win snugly at the line by half a length.

A stoutly bred filly, Continental Drift's dam was the top class Intercontinental, a dual grade 1 winner in America, when trained by the late great Bobby Frankel. She is now a highly valuable breeding prospect off the back of this win and can go onto better things next season.

Martin Lane, speaking to The Avondhu, went onto say, “She raced very green early, but got the idea half way up the straight. She picked up really well and won very nicely come the line.”

Lane's second and final winner came aboard the David Simcock trained, Pereira (5/1), in a Class 6 Handicap, over 1m4f, at Newcastle, on October 15th last.

Making her handicap debut on this her fourth start, this three year old daughter of Tiger Hill showed a good attitude off a 209 day break, getting up close home to win by a neck.

Lane went onto say, "She was very keen early on, but she was very game when it mattered." Lane now sits on the 47 winner mark for 2013.

KENIRY TIMES IT WELL ON COSMOS

Killeagh native and flat jockey, Liam Keniry, is still enjoying a great season, as he notched up another two winners last week. The most notable came aboard the Pat Shanahan trained, Dancing Cosmos (9/2), in a class 6 handicap, over 1m, at Wolverhampton, on October 19th last.

Sent over from Danesfort, Co. Kilkenny, Dancing Cosmos, a three year old daughter of Holy Roman Emperor, was biding to follow up her previous course and distance win, under a penalty, just under four weeks ago.

Smartly away from the gate, Keniry was anxious to get a prominent position up the inside rail, but things didn't quiet go to plan going into the first bend, as he was pushed back several places into fifth. A good enough early pace set by Outlaw Torn (16/1), helped Keniry's mount settle well. As they ran down the back straight, Dancing Cosmos was sighted coming slightly off the rail, travelling with ease just behind Goal (7/2). Switched around runners to challenge into the home straight, Dancing Cosmos now saw plenty of daylight and stoked up by Keniry, stormed home to collar Icy Blue (9/1) inside the final 50yds. A winning margin of half a length was recorded by the Irish based filly, as she notched up her second win on the bounce at Wolverhampton.

A timely win for connections of this filly, as she holds an entry at Goffs sales on Thursday, October 24th. Declan Glynn, representing trainer Pat Shanahan, went onto say, "The polytrack is a bit deeper now and this is as far as she'd want to go. She's in the sales next week."

Keniry's second and final winner came aboard the Conor Dore trained Yasir (5/4f), in a class 6 claimer, over 1m3f at Leicester, on October 15th last.

Having cost connections just £2,000, Yasir, a former Godolphin inmate, has now won twice since joining Irishman Dore's yard in Hubbert's Bridge, Lincolnshire. This was Keniry's 60th winner of 2013.

O'MEARA'S RYEOLLIEAN LOOKS CLASS APART

Fermoy native and trainer, David O'Meara, continues to keep his horses ticking over nicely even at the back end of the season and he had a good winner in the shape of two year old, Ryeolliean (5/1), at Newcastle, on October 15th last.

Ridden by Danny Tudhope and contesting a class 5 maiden over 1m in testing ground conditions, this gelded son of Haafhd showed huge improvement from his debut run, ten days earlier at Redcar.

Stepped up in trip here, Tudhope settled Ryeolliean in second place off a steady early pace set by Joe Fanning on Tizlove Regardless (16/1). With the race now on in earnest to halfway, Tudhope still looked to have plenty horse under him. Joining and passing the leader to the two pole, Tudhope now asked his mount a serious question, one which was answered in no uncertain terms.

Hitting the front fully one and half furlongs out, Ryeolliean quickened clear inside the final furlong for an emphatic four and a half length win, from the disappointing odds on favourite Beyond Smart (1/2f), who plugged on for second place under William Buick.

Looking not overly big, Ryeolliean looks a nice prospect for next season and is undoubtedly in the right yard to fulfil that untapped potential.

Danny Tudhope, winning jockey, went onto say, "He got through that ground well and was pricking his ears inside the last. He's a nice horse who'll make a nice three-year-old."

VAUGHAN'S OLIVER MARCHES ON

Rockmills native and trainer, Ed Vaughan, recorded yet another winner last week, with three year old Olivers Mount (28/1), keeping up his impressive win strike rate of 21% on UK all weather tracks.

Going to post under Jimmy Quinn, in a class 6 handicap over 1m1f, this gelded son of Mount Nelson, was slow to stride from the starting gate.

With a strong early pace set by Dandarrell (14/1) and Ajeeb (20/1), Quinn settled his mount in midfield amongst runners. Looking to travel well, if somewhat keen, Olivers Mount took closer order into fifth place just over two out. Switched wide to challenge into the home straight, Vaughan's charge came with a sweeping run down the outside to catch and pass Polar Forest (9/1) well inside the final furlong, winning by a length and looking to have plenty in hand at the line.

Only rated 46 here and one pound out of the handicap, Olivers Mount looks to have benefited from a step up in trip and a strongly run race. There will be no doubt more to come off the back of this sixth run and it would be no surprise to see him run again sooner rather than later.

Ed Vaughan, speaking to The Avondhu, went onto say, “Olivers Mount is very low in the handicap, so it's hard to get him into races. He has lots of entries in the near future, but keep an eye on him through the winter on the all weather.”

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