Linehan tops class with three for O'Neill

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Linehan tops class with three for O’Neill

Week 44 in the UK proved fruitful for local connections – a total of 14 winners being recorded, with Maurice Linehan taking top spoils.

Barry O’Neill

Sunday, 10 November 2013
9:45 PM GMT



WEEK 44 28th-3rd NOVEMBER, 2013

Another remarkable week for locals in the UK with no less than eight individuals, training or riding the winners of 14 races.

LINEHAN TOPS CLASS WITH THREE FOR O'NEILL

Fermoy native and jump jockey, Maurice Linehan, had a week to remember, riding three winners for his boss Jonjo O'Neill, which included a Sedgefield double. His most notable win came aboard Abnaki, in a class 3 handicap hurdle over 3m3f, at Sedgefield, on October 31st last.

Reverting back to hurdles and with first time blinkers applied, this eight year son of Milan, came back to form with a bang over this stamina sapping trip. With only six runners going to post and the early exit of One In A Milan (11/4) reducing that field further to five, Abnaki was settled just off the pacesetter, Night In Milan (9/4f). Joining that leader upsides three out, Linehan kicked on with plenty of horse under him to the second last. Driven clear running to the last, Abnaki popped the last and stayed on stoutly to record an easy eight length win, from Jeu De Roseau (10/1) back in second place. Scoring for the fourth time over hurdles, this former Nenagh point winner, whose dam is a half sister to Gold Cup winner, See More Business, can go on from this. With blinkers seemingly helping him concentrate more, a return to fences, where he remains a maiden, looks in the offing.

Linehan, speaking to The Avondhu, went onto say, "Abanki is a bit of a monkey but I seem to get a tune out of him, so hopefully he can keep going on from this."

Linehan went on to record a double on the card, when taking a class 4 novice handicap hurdle, over 2m4f, aboard Carlton Jack (13/8f). Making his handicap debut off a mark of 115, this six year old son of Erhaab, was following up his recent maiden hurdle win at Uttoxeter, again under Linehan. Looking well in command jumping the final flight, Carlton Jack, jinxed violently right up the run-in and almost gifted the race to Mr Utah (7/1). A determined Linehan, left his mount drift to the stands rail and was all out to hold on by a neck at the line.

Linehan's third and final winner came aboard, Lookout Mountain (5/1), in a class 4 handicap hurdle, over 3m2f, at Huntingdon, on November 3rd last. Back on the track, after running just two days earlier at Wetherby, Lookout Mountain, upped in trip, fairly routed his field, for an easy win by seven lengths.

Castletownroche native and trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, went on to record another four winners, making it seven wins for the second week running. Those winners were, Minella For Steak (7/4f), Taquin Du Seuil (4/9f), More Of That (3/1f) and Oscar Fortune (5/4f), all ridden by Tony McCoy, who is now just four off riding a remarkable 4,000 winners. O'Neill now moves on to the 84 winner mark for the season and still tops the UK jump trainers list.

PENITENT A JOY TO BEHOLD

Fermoy native and trainer, David O'Meara recorded yet another stakes race win with the ever admirable Penitent (13/2), in the Listed Ben Marshall Stakes, over 1m, at Newmarket, on November 2nd last.

Ridden by Danny Tudhope, this seven year old son of Kyllachy, was notching up his tenth win in all, six of which have now come in stakes races. Coming here off the back off a poor run, in a group 2 at Longchamp, Penitent again got his favoured ground conditions, which seem vital to his performance these days. His record when running in soft to heavy ground now reads, 11511 and his grit and determination shone through once again here.

Tracking the early pace set by Daddy Long Legs (16/1), Penitent made his move at the three pole. Joining and passing the long time leader, Tudhope kicked one length clear inside the final furlong, only to be immediately challenged by eventual second French Navy (9/4) and Tullius (7/2) down the outside. All out, Penitent held on grimly as the line came and just about got the verdict by a fast diminishing neck and head.

LANDAU ADDS TO PRICE TAG UNDER KENIRY

Killeagh native and flat jockey, Liam Keniry, recorded another brace of winners over the past week. His most notable win came aboard the Sylvester Kirk trained Landua (4/1), who followed up last week’s win under a penalty, in a class 5 handicap, over 9f, at Wolverhampton, on October 29th last.

A three year old son of Aussie Rules, Landau, wearing cheek-pieces for the first time, made short work of his opposition in this contest. Content to bowl along in third position off the early pacesetter, Staff Sergeant (28/1), Keniry switched around runners entering the home straight and duly stayed on strongly for a one length win. A timely win for the Kirk trained youngster, who was entered up in the horses in training sales two days later at Tattersalls and duly sold for a tidy sum of 16,000gns.

Liam Keniry, winning jockey went onto say, "He's improved and likes this surface. I believe he's in the sales later in the week."

Keniry's second and final winner came aboard the Neil Mulholland trained Mr Burbidge (9/1), in a class 6 handicap, over 2m, again at Wolverhampton, on November 1st last. Well supported in the betting ring, this five year old son of Midnight Legend won by three and a half lengths, with what looked like plenty in hand. Reverting to the flat here after unseating his rider twice over hurdles, he looks well handicapped and holds another entry on November 6th at Kempton Park.

IT LOOKS ALL TOO SIMPLY FOR NED

Castletownroche native and jump jockey, Brian Harding, is now in full flow this jumps season and he chalked up a nice winner in the shape of the Nicky Richards trained, Simply Ned (11/4f), in a class 3 handicap chase over 2m, at Ayr, on November 2nd last.

On somewhat of a recovery mission after falling at the first on his chase debut, Simply Ned was all the rage in this eight runner event. Held up by Harding, this six year son of Fruits Of Love, proved keen early doors and after a small scare at the fifth fence, bounded along like a fair sort. Jumping and travelling well, he could be called the winner a long way from home. Making smooth headway to the sixth fence, he headed the leader and eventual second Stormin Exit (9/1) before the second last. Driven clear up the run-in by Harding, went on to score impressively by three and a half lengths.

Recording his fifth win from just 12 starts, Simply Ned looks a smart chasing recruit and one to follow this winter. Looking very well schooled after his Carlisle mishap, he can go onto better things.

Nicky Richards, winning trainer, went onto say, "He might just be alright. We'll focus on getting him educated over fences as he fell at the first on his chasing debut at Carlisle. I was so disappointed as he hadn't put a foot wrong at home."

NOTHING MINOR ABOUT ASIA

Kilworth native and flat jockey, Martin Lane, added a single winner to his season’s tally and now sits just one off 50 winners for 2013.

Getting the leg up on the Dr. Jon Scargill trained, Asia Minor (10/1), in a class 6 handicap over 12f at Kempton Park, on October 30th, Lane, not for the first time was winning over course and distance on this daughter of Pivotal.

Dropped out in rear off a muddling pace, Asia Minor was sighted travelling well in her jockey’s hands and reeling in the long time leader and eventual second, Men Don’t Cry (15/2) down the outside of runners, she fairly bolted in by six lengths.

Recording her second win from just ten starts, Scargill's filly was running here fresh and in a first time tongue-tie. Off the track since June, Asia Minor showed the benefit of that break, winning here off a mark of 59 and she should pay her way on the all weather over the coming winter months. She holds another entry at Kempton on November 6th and should be taken very seriously if turned out again quickly under a penalty.

KENIRY LORDS IT OVER RIVALS

Killeagh native and jump jockey, Barry Keniry, was back in the winners circle, aboard the Philip Kirby trained, War Lord (8/1), in a class 4 juvenile hurdle over 2m1f, at Sedgefield, on October 31st last.

Having only his second start over hurdles, this three year old gelded son of Aussie Rules, looked to have benefited from a debut hurdle third, at Uttoxeter, in mid October. A winner over 1m on the flat, when trained by David O'Meara, War Lord looks a natural jumper with a good attitude to boot.

Joining the long time leader Dispour (11/10f) at the third last flight, Keniry was seen at his strongest after a mistake at the last flight looked to hand the initiative back to eventual second, Dispour and Jason Maguire. But War Lord, galvanised again by Keniry up the long run-in, was never going to be denied here and he showed a gallant attitude to repel the Donald McCain trained Dispour by three quarters of a length.

Barry Keniry, winning jockey went onto say, "We wondered the last day whether War Lord might struggle to get the trip over hurdles, but the way he ran, he felt like all he did was stay. I said to Philip today, that we should be bold and if it comes off all the better. He was very tough."

RING GETS IT ON AGAIN

Freemount native and jump jockey, Conor Ring, followed up his win three days earlier, on the Evan Williams trained, Get It On (1/1f), in a class 4 handicap chase over 2m3f, at Ffos Las, on October 29th last.

Sent to post a warm favourite, this eight year son of Kings Theatre, had only three rivals to contend with in this contest. Dropped out last by Ring, Get It On was seen jumping and travelling well through the early stages of this race. Taking closer order to the fourth last, Ring took the lead cruising, three out. Drawing clear to the second last, there was only going to be one outcome here. Eased heavily on the run-in, for a five length win, Get It On has come back in fine fettle this season and looked to have a lot in hand here. He will now be heavily penalised by the handicapper, but seems progressive enough to just about cope with a big weight rise.

Recording his fifth win in total and third over the bigger obstacles, Williams charge could now be pitched into better company over the coming weeks.

Evan Williams, winning trainer, went onto say, "Get It On could go to Ascot on Saturday for a much better race. But this may well be an impossible task as the handicapper has put him up and he will also have a penalty for this."



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