O’Meara’s ‘Out Do’ scores at York

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O’Meara’s ‘Out Do’ scores at York

Now onto the 185 winner mark for 2015, with 11 winners coming from Week 20 abroad – Jonjo O’Neill bagging 4 of those alone.

Barry O’Neill

Wednesday, 27 May 2015
12:05 PM GMT



WEEK 20 – MONDAY, 11th MAY – SUNDAY, 17th MAY

Another 11 winners combined to report on from Avondhu area locals based in the UK. Castletownroche native, Jonjo O'Neill, continues in fine form with 4 winners, followed by David O'Meara and Richie McLernon with 2 winners apiece. Martin Lane, Brian Harding and Maurice Linehan kept up the momentum, adding a winner each. Our combined total for 2015 now sits on the 185 winner mark.

O'MEARA'S ‘OUT DO’ LOOKS GROUP CLASS AT YORK

Fermoy native and trainer, David O'Meara, added a further two winners to his ever growing seasonal total, which now stands at 31. His most notable winner came with the Danny Tudhope ridden, Out Do (6/1), who went onto take the 15 runner Betfred H'cap (C2), over 5f, at York on May 14th last.

Bidding to follow up last month’s Pontefract win, off an all time high handicap mark of 104 and dropped back to 5f for the first time, with visor reapplied, this six year old gelded son of Exceed And Excel was well supported in the market to defy top-weight. Well away from a low draw position, Tudhope settled his mount well in mid division, as both Demora and Red Baron rattled off fast splits in the first half of this sprint.

Still travelling well to the two furlong marker, Out Do was produced by Tudhope as a gap appeared between runners and he duly picked off new leader Red Baron at the one pole despite hanging hard left towards the running rail. Staying on strongly, Out Do hit the line with a neck to spare from Red Baron, with a further one and a quarter lengths back to Desert Law in third.

Recording his sixth and most notable win to date, with a lifetime best performance, this Evan Sutherland owned gelding will now be forced into pattern company, a task he looks well up to. Controversy followed this race as Out Do had been withdrawn from a race at York the day before on grounds that the ground wasn't suitable. With both days officially been declared with good ground, O'Meara stated to the stewards he felt the ground was on the slow side of good on the first day and the fast side of good on the second day. He was well vindicated with times suggesting that the ground was good to firm for Out Do's win. Not for the first time authorities getting going descriptions wrong on the day, where they also failed to inform the public that the running rail was dolled out on the round course for the first two days of York, adding 24yds to major Oaks and Derby trails.

O'Meara went onto record another York winner, in the shape of the Sam James ridden, Algar Lad, who took the 17 runner Infinity Tyres Stakes H'cap (C2), over 6f, at York on May 13th last. Recording his 6th win from 18 starts, this five year old gelded son of Kheleyf, seems to have benefited from the step back up to 6f and is now another sprinter rated 100 plus in the O'Meara camp.

HESSION CONTINUES ON THE UP UNDER BUOYANT McLERNON

Liscarroll native and jump jockey, Richie McLernon, continues to boot home the winners, recording a further two wins last week and taking his seasonal total onto the six winner mark. His most notable winner came aboard the Jonjo O'Neill trained, Gray Hession (13/8f), who won the 6 runner 18 To 30 Golf Members Novices' H'cap Chase (C3), over 20.5f, at Southwell on May 12th last.

Bidding to follow up a recent easy success at Bangor, this eight year old gelded son of Vinnie Roe, had the added burden of a 15lb penalty and a class rise to contend with here. Held up in touch early, as the early pace was set by Abigail Lynch, Gray Hession always travelled well, if not as fluent over his jumps to the halfway point.

Taking closer order before the entrance to the home turn as firstly Verano and then Owen Na View took their bite of the lead, Gray Hession closed into second on the approach to three out. With just Owen Na View to contend with, McLernon challenged to the outside and coming upsides over two out, he now had a race on his hands. Jumping right at the final fence gave Owen Na View the upper hand and Gray Hession had to dig deep to overhaul the game leader just before the winning post. In a drive full of intent, McLernon got his mount ahead just before the line, going onto win by a neck in the end.

A brave performance by the winner, who will now have to take another rise in the weights. Recording his third win from just nine starts, Gray Hession has little mileage on the clock and could have a small bit more to offer, but the handicapper's grip will get tighter and life will be more difficult going forward. Gray Hession is now two from two since joining O'Neill from Ireland.

McLernon and O'Neill teamed up again to record another winner in the shape of Strongly Suggested (9/2), who went onto take the 9 runner Sir Stanley Clarke Memorial H'cap Chase (C4), over 16f, at Uttoxeter on May 16th last. Following up his recent Worcester win off an 8lb higher mark, this eight year old gelded son of Kayf Tara was recording his sixth win in total and looks a different horse since a reported wind operation late last winter.

Castletownroche native, O'Neill, went onto record a fourth winner during the week, with the Will Kennedy ridden, It Is What It Is (9/4Jf), who took the seven runner Corbett’s Sports Chester H'cap Chase (C5), over 24.5f, at Bangor on May 16th last. Making his seasonal reappearance after nine months off the track, this eight year old gelded son of Presenting, was completing a hat-trick of wins over fences from just five chase starts.

Lightly raced with just eight runs in total, It Is What It Is, looks a big galloping type who possibly needs time to recover from frailties between runs. O'Neill now sits on the seven winner mark for the season.

ISAACSTOWN LAD & CASTLETOWN LAD FOLLOW UP NORTH OF THE BORDER

Castletownroche native and jump jockey, Brian Harding, followed up last week’s Kelso win, aboard the Nicky Richards trained, Isaacstown Lad (5/4f), who took the 9 runner Scottish Berries H'cap Hurdle (C4), over 24.5f, at Perth on May 13th last. Coming into this race 6lb well in, having been given a 13lb rise by the handicapper, Isaacstown Lad looks a horse on the up and looked even more impressive here, upped in trip, in more testing ground conditions.

Settled well towards the inside of runners, not far from the pace set by Snapping Turtle, Harding could be sited with a double handful most of the way around this right-handed track. Taking closer order before the third last as the pace lifted, this field of 9 runners stacked up behind Snapping Turtle, with Isaacstown Lad travelling best going down over the second last. Nursed into the lead between the last two flights, Harding had little trouble over the last and staying on strongly, this MS Borders Racing Club owned gelding, cruised to an eased down six length success. It was a further one and a quarter length back to Madame Allsorts in third.

Recording his second win from just 8 hurdle starts, this lightly raced gelding looks to be thriving under Richards and may well be kept going in this type of form, if conditions suit. Winning here off a mark of 100, Isaacstown Lad was due to go up to 106 before this win and will now be nearer 115 when next appearing on the racecourse. He holds no entries this week and could keep within this class window of 0-115 if the handicapper so wishes.

Harding was riding his third winner of the 2015-16 jumps season.

BAT COMES OUT OF THE CLOUDS UNDER LANE

Kilworth native and flat jockey, Martin Lane, recorded his 17th winner of 2015, aboard the David Simcock trained, Bateel (33/1), who took the 9 runner Smith & Williamson Maiden Fillies' Stakes (C5), over 9.9f, at Salisbury on May 14th last.

Making her racecourse debut, this three year old daughter of Dubawi, was sent to post a market afterthought and with driving rain turning conditions soft underfoot, stamina was to play a vital role in the outcome of this contest. Slow to break and dropped out last some two lengths detached from the field, Lane was happy to sit and soak up the mud on his silks, as the field went a steady pace, led by Raddeh and Ted Durcan. Joining the course proper up the home straight, the leaders decided to navigate up the centre of the track and looked to kick for home early enough in these conditions.

Outpaced and looking to be going nowhere fully four furlongs from home, Bateel suddenly started to pick up the bit once switched to the nearside with plenty daylight. Making eye-catching ground on the leaders before the two furlong marker, Lane sensed he now had a chance, as Twitch and Harry Bentley passed race favourite, La Boheme, right at the one pole. With both horses striding clear of the field inside the final furlong, Lane got a huge response from his filly, who joined Twitch right on the line, just getting her nose in front where it mattered most. A nose was the official winning margin, with a further four lengths back to Tutti Frutti in third.

An unlikely victory from the halfway point, Bateel showed a great attitude and looks as if she will benefit even further in time. A great ride from Lane who nursed this filly over the line without being too hard on her. She will go onto better things and her paddock value has now increased ten fold, being a half-sister to Listed winner Basemah, out of a dam, Attractive Crown, who was second in the Group 2 Pretty Polly Stakes.

Tom Clover, assistant trainer, went onto say, “It was a lovely introduction. Bateel hasn't been setting the gallops alight at home and that's a pleasant surprise. She loved getting her toe in and she probably needs it like that”.

Lane kept up his good 29% winning strike rate for trainer, Simcock this season, riding his 5th winner from just 17 rides.

LINEHAN MAKES STRATFORD DASH TOP PRIORITY

Fermoy native and jump jockey, Maurice Linehan, rode his first winner of the season after making a two hour dash south from riding in the first race at Market Rasen to Stratford to ride the Jonjo O'Neill trained, Top Priority (9/2), who took the 6 runner Rayford Caravan Park NHF, over 16.5f.

Making his second racecourse start after a promising 4th in a Warwick bumper first time out, this four year old gelded son of German stallion, Solon, was dropped in off a steady pace set by Sadik's Boy, who could only take the field along for seven furlongs before tailing off. With the lead briefly taken on by Alys Rock, it was the strong travelling Vaillant Nonantais, who took over from seven furlongs out and duly set about stamping his authority on this race.

With Top Priority moving into third place onto the heels of the leaders, Linehan began to get to work on his mount well before the turn in for home. On turning in, Top Priority moved to chase down Vaillant Nonantais and Andrew Tinkler, who seemed intent on not letting Linehan up his inside. Avoiding the dolled out rail by inches on three occasions, Linehan showed determination to get a run up the inner and was duly rewarded close home, as his mount bravely responded to his urgings. Getting a clear run to the line, Top Priority stayed on well to win by three quarters of a length from Vaillant Nonantais back in second.

Linehan had a few choice words for Tinkler on pulling up and after a stewards’ enquiry, Tinkler was given a two day suspension for careless riding. Recording his first win, this Jonjo O'Neill Racing Club owned gelding has plenty of time on his side and could be one to continue with into the summer.

Combined UK flat/jumps 2015 = 185.



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