Maurice Linehan leads Last Shadow to first hurdle win

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Maurice Linehan leads Last Shadow to first hurdle win

Jonjo O’Neill and Brian Harding shared 6 winners in total during Week 46 abroad – O’Neill’s winners coming at Uttoxeter and Carlisle, while Harding notched victories at Wetherby, Ayr and Newcastle.

Barry O’Neill

Tuesday, 25 November 2014
12:50 PM GMT



WEEK 46: 10th-16th NOVEMBER 2014

Another 8 winners combined to report on from Avondhu area locals based in the UK, with Castletownroche natives, Jonjo O'Neill and Brian Harding, sharing the honours with three winners apiece. Our combined total for 2014 now stands on 422 winners.

SHADOW TAKES FIRST HURDLE WIN UNDER LINEHAN

Fermoy native and jump jockey, Maurice Linehan, had a welcome return to the winners enclosure, riding his third winner of the season aboard the Jonjo O'Neill trained, Last Shadow (6/1), who went onto take the 6 runner Banks Bitter Handicap Hurdle (C4), over 20.5f, at Uttoxeter on November 15th last.

Last seen on the track some 14 months ago at Carlisle, this five year old gelded son of Notnowcato, was bidding to break his hurdling duck here, having won three times on the flat for Willie Muir. Wearing a tongue-tie, Last Shadow was settled in fourth place, up the inside of runners, off a steady looking pace set by Mubrook. Looking keen and fresh in the early part of the race, Last Shadow jumped big, losing ground in the air but easily made up lost lengths on the flat between hurdles.

Turning into the home-straight first time around and the lead now became disputed with Mubrook and Clara Peggotty taking each other on over the fourth flight of hurdles. Approaching the fifth flight and the race complexion changed dramatically, as Clara Peggotty fell on the landing side, bringing down second favourite Nafaath in the process. Finding himself in second place going out on the final circuit, Linehan was happy to track Mubrook, who looked to be a good target to aim at, on the long run to the third last in the home straight.

Off the final bend and straightening up for home, this race was on in earnest as Mubrook put the sword to Last Shadow, jumping the third last some two lengths up and looking if anything, like he was the most likely winner. Stoked up going down to the final two flights of hurdles, Last Shadow began to respond and was soon upsides Mubrook jumping the second last. With both horses still in unison going over the final flight of hurdles, it was Last Shadow who found plenty, going onto win by some six lengths at the line. A game Mubrook held on well for second place.

A good training performance from O'Neill, this JP McManus owned gelding can now go onto better things. All his wins have now come on soft to heavy ground and he looks well handicapped to follow up in the near future.

Maurice Linehan, speaking to The Avondhu, said, "He travelled and jumped well and did it nicely in the end."

Castletownroche native and trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, added a further two winners, taking his season’s total onto the 57 winner mark, with a Carlisle double on November 10th. O'Neill reintroduced his Irish Grand National winner, Shutthefrontdoor (2/1), who took the Weatherbys Bank Graduation Chase (C2), over 24.5f, under Barry Geraghty. Shutthefrontdoor looked as good as ever on this reappearance and he readily took care of his rivals by some eight lengths.

O'Neill will aim high with this seven year old son of Accordion, with the Cheltenham Gold Cup top of the agenda as an end of season target. Barry Geragthy, winning rider, having his first ride at the track, said, "I can't complain about that. It's a lovely course and he's a grand horse. I had a good ride and he's done it nicely."

O'Neill's double was completed by Bronco Billy (5/2), who took the concluding bumper, again under Geraghty, for Fermoy native and Coolmore boss, John Magnier and partners. Following on from his recent debut second at Worcester, this four year old son of Flemensfirth knew his job better on this occasion and can make up into a nice hurdler in time.

HARDING REACHES 30 WINNER SUMMIT ON STEEL

Castletownroche native and jump jockey, Brian Harding, continues in great form, riding another three winners in the past week and taking his season’s total onto the 30 winner mark. His most notable winner came aboard the David Dennis trained, Steel Summit (7/4), who took the 3 runner Racing UK Handicap Chase (C4), over 20.5f, at Wetherby on November 15th last.

Having his third chase start in November, this five year old gelded son of Craigsteel, set out to make all in a very winnable looking contest. Settled in front off a steady pace, Steel Summit jumped well and clean at his fences, tracked by race favourite Have You Had Yours in second place, with Oxalido trailing in third. Keeping to the middle of the course in search of better ground, Harding was joined by Have You Had Yours over the final four fences in the home straight first time around.

Regaining a definite advantage going out on the final circuit, Steel Summit was again joined if not passed by Have You Had Yours on jumping the first of five fences down the far side. With the lead reverting back to Steel Summit after a great leap at the open ditch, Oxalido looked to get outpaced and dropped some seven lengths off the leading pair. With both leaders making a mistake at the final open ditch, five from home, Oxalido closed right up again before they entered the home straight. Travelling well in front, Steel Summit looked to have the measure of Have You Had Yours, but now Harding had Oxalido to contend with down his outside. Jumping the third last well and still two lengths up approaching the second last, Steel Summit had luck on his side as the misfortunate Oxalido lost his legs on the landing side of the second last, coming down. Left clear in front, Steel Summit, popped the last, going onto win by a facile looking 27 lengths, from the disappointing Have You Had Yours back in second place.

Recording his second chase win from just 6 starts, Steel Summit looks a way better prospect over the larger obstacles after failing to score over hurdles in eight attempts. He holds multiple entries on November 19th, 20th and 21st and as entries cost money, he is worth following up.

Harding went on to record another two winners, both in bumpers and both for his boss, trainer Nicky Richards. The first of those wins came aboard Imada (13/8f), who took the 10 runner BetVictor Open NHF (C6), over 16f, at Ayr on November 12th last. Making his racecourse debut, this four year old son of Arcadio looked different class to his rivals in this line-up, winning easily by eight lengths at the line. He looks another good prospect for his in-form trainer.

Harding's second winner for Richards came again aboard a newcomer in the shape of Western Rules (5/4f), who took the STP Construction Maiden NHF (C6), over 16f, at Newcastle on November 14th last. Looking to know his job well, this four year old son of Westerner, scored by an easy looking three and a quarter lengths and again looks to have a bright future ahead of him. Richards was winning this race for the fourth time since 2006.

MULTITASK ANSWERS KENIRY'S CALL

Killeagh native and flat jockey, Liam Keniry, steadily reaches for the 60 winner mark in 2014, as he recorded his 59th winner of the year, aboard the Michael Madgwick trained, Multitask (8/1), who took the 14 runner BetVictor Handicap (C5), over 7f, at Kempton Park on November 13th last.

Slipping down the handicap, to a mark of 69, 3lb lower than when last successful on the all-weather, this four year old gelded son of Multiplex was slow to stride from the gate, resulting in him being squeezed out to last place by runners either side of him. Finding himself in this uncompromising position going into the first bend, off a frantic looking pace, set by firstly, Kakapuka and then Live Dangerously, Keniry sat quietly, biding his time, as his mount looked keen in hand. Already to halfway and Pour La Victoire had pulled his way around Live Dangerously, to take up the lead fully three and a half furlongs from home, as Multitask and Keniry sat and suffered still in last place, some 12 lengths off the leader. As the race hotted up off the home turn, Pour La Victoire had slipped his field by some four lengths and looked set to steal the race. Keniry was sighted sneaking up the inside of runners, making stealthy progress on reaching the cut away, as the field fanned out across the track. Getting the clearest of runs, Multitask scythed through the field up the inside, reeling in a tiring Pour La Victoire well inside the final furlong.

Hitting the front over half a furlong out, Multitask got first run on his closing rivals, going onto win by three-quarters of a length at the line. Freddie With A Y stayed on well for second, with Until Midnight taking home third placed prize-money.

Recording his sixth win in total, all of which have now come on the all-weather, Multitask keeps up an impressive 33% win strike rate on a synthetic surface. Rated only 58 on turf, compared to 69 on the all-weather, he can continue to pay his way in this grade of contest.

Liam Keniry, winning rider, went onto say, "He's decent in that grade and when they go quick he's got a great turn of foot."

UK flat/jumps 2014 = 415, Dubai = 3, Ireland = 2, Canada = 1, France = 1.



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