Richie McLernon and Jonjo O’Neill strike gold

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Richie McLernon and Jonjo O’Neill strike gold

More success from area connections, with Jonjo O’Neill continuing his winning ways in addition to winners from Castletownroche, Freemount and Fermoy natives.

Barry O’Neill

Tuesday, 17 March 2015
8:30 PM GMT



WEEK 10: MONDAY, 2 MARCH – SUNDAY, 8 MARCH

Another 7 winners combined to report on from Avondhu area locals based in the UK. This week we feature winners from natives of Castletownroche (4), Fermoy (1), Liscarroll (1) and Freemount (1). Our combined total for 2015 now sits on 88 winners.

HEDLEY DOES IT THE HARD WAY

Liscarroll native and jump jockey, Richie McLernon, joined forces with fellow Avondhu native and trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, aboard Hedley Lemarr (4/11f), who took the 9 runner Whites Of Coventry Novices' Hurdle (C4), over 16f, at Warwick on March 8th last. Making only his second start after a highly promising debut hurdle run, when second to a 125 rated horse at Bangor last month, this five year old gelded son of Gold Well was sent to post a long odds-on favourite to dispatch 8 rivals here.

Jumping off in second place, off a steady pace set by reluctant starter, Supari, Hedley Lemarr settled well early in prime position after jumping the first two hurdles up the home straight first time around. Going out on the final circuit and McLernon was confident, full of horse as the pace slowed up the hill on the far side. Switched wide going downhill, Hedley Lemarr rejoined the packed field only a length down and it looked plain sailing from here on in.

But the complexion of this race quickly changed at three out, as Hedley Lemarr blundered badly, leaving new race leader, Dandy Duke in front with McLernon now having to gather his mount back up, as Aston Cantlow went ominously well up his inside turning for home. With both Aston Cantlow and Hedley Lemarr going clear of a hanging Dandy Duke on straightening up for the second last, it looked a toss of a coin as to who would prevail here. Getting on terms with Aston Cantlow over two out, McLernon had given his mount every chance going to the last, where fate would have it that Aston Cantlow made a complete mess of it, opening the way for Hedley Lemarr to go on and win by just three quarters of a length.

Recording his first win in heart-stopping fashion, Hedley Lemarr looks a promising recruit in the famous colours of the Hitchens family. Jonjo O'Neill, winning trainer, went onto say, "My heart was in my mouth when he made that mistake three out. He did well to win after that. He's a grand type who'll make a grand chaser."

O'Neill went on to record another two winners in Week 10, the first of which came with the Wayne Hutchinson ridden, Catching On (11/2), who won the Devon National (C3) over 30.5f, at Exeter, on March 3rd last and finally, O'Neill took the 32RedSport Handicap Hurdle (C3), with the Paddy Cowley (10) ridden, Master Malt (7/4f), over 24f, at Market Rasen on March 8th. O'Neill now sits on 89 winners for the season.

HARDING INCHING EVER CLOSER TO HALF CENTURY

Castletownroche native and jump jockey, Brian Harding, continued his weekly appearance in this column, riding his 48th winner of the season, aboard the Nicky Richards trained, Sir Vinski (2/1jf), who won the 7 runner Jim Mair Driver Training Novices' Handicap Hurdle (C4), over 20.5f, at Ayr on March 7th last. Coming here off the back of a disappointing run at Sandown on his handicap debut last time out, this six year old gelded son of Vinnie Roe, was dropped in class, running at a favoured track much closer to home.

Jumping off in fourth place off a steady pace set by Monbeg River, Harding was content to lay up handy and let this race develop around him. Moving up a place, into third, over the third flight of hurdles, Sir Vinski was kept three wide of runners entering the home straight on the first circuit and took closer order on pressing the leader and second, Aniknam, over the three hurdles, on the run past the enclosures first time around. As in the past, Sir Vinski looked lazy in running and Harding was quick to administer a sharp reminder on falling back into third place going out into the country for the final time.

Back on an even keel and the pace finally began to lift, as this field bunched up going over the 7th, where Aniknam took over at the head of affairs from Monbeg River. Still close up in third, Sir Vinski broke away with both Aniknam and Monbeg River, as the leaders began the long run to three out. Entering the home straight and Monbeg River was the first to fold as Aniknam kicked on some two lengths clear of Sir Vinski over three out. Ridden strongly and switched to the outside, Harding slowly began to eat into Aniknam's lead and joining that rival over two out, Sir Vinski suddenly looked a more than willing partner.

Leading between the last two flights of hurdles, a clean jump over the last settled matters, as the Anne Marie Melville owned gelding stayed on strongly to win going away by four lengths, from Aniknam back in second place.

Recording his third win, on this, only his fifth start, the Greystoke inmate looks a horse going places. Having previously won over course and distance after bleeding from the nose, Sir Vinski looks one to keep on the right side of, especially as his style of racing is never going to catch the handicapper's eye. Rated 115 here, he's in the right hands to exploit any handicap mark under 125.

Harding keeps up his impressive 27% winning strike rate for trainer Nicky Richards this season, which now stands on 32 winners from 120 rides. Nicky Richards, winning trainer, said, "I haven't quiet worked Sir Vinski out but I think he needs three miles on better ground. There's a three mile novice handicap for him at the Scottish National meeting."

EVERGREEN PADDY MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME

Freemount native and conditional jump jockey, Conor Ring, rode his 7th winner of the season, aboard the Grace Harris trained Paddy The Oscar (5/1), who went onto take the six runner Crystal Windows Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase (C4), over 24f, at Chepstow on March 7th last. Coming here off a Lingfield win and a good second under a penalty at Plumpton, last time out, this 12 year old gelded son of Oscar, looked in rude health on what was the first race of Irish Race Day, at the Welsh venue.

Jumping off in front upsides Winged Crusader, a sloppy jump at the second fence cost Paddy The Oscar the disputed lead, but he was quickly back on the girth of the leader over the third fence. With the pace sensible, both leaders looked awkward at their jumps over the five fences in the home straight first time round.

Going out on the final circuit, Ring sat quiet, content to let Winged Crusader give him a tow through this race. Always looking to be going the better, Paddy The Oscar took little time in dispatching Winged Crusader over the final fence down the back. Kicking on in front off the home turn, Ring had plenty of horse under him as he strode down to five out. Over that fence and Paddy The Oscar galloped clear of his rivals effortlessly, leaving the chasers some ten lengths adrift over three out and just needing to get over the last two fences for certain victory. Clear over the final fence, Paddy The Oscar showed no signs of stopping, staying on resolutely to record a facile 16 length win from Wayward Frolic back in second place.

Recording his third win from just 15 starts, Paddy The Oscar is very lightly raced for a 12 year old and he can run again in a non-conditional handicap without a penalty. Formerly trained by Denis Ahern, in Dungourney, Paddy The Oscar obviously has had a lot of issues over the years and his £600 price tag at the sales two years ago reflects this. All his wins have come on undulating tracks and it may pay heed to look out for his next entry if 'undulating' appears in the track description.

SCORELINE CHALKS UP FOURTH WIN UNDER PROMISING DOYLE

Fermoy native and trainer, David O'Meara, recorded his sixth winner of 2015, with the Josh Doyle (7) ridden, Scoreline (9/2), who took the 8 runner Unibet Classified Claiming Stakes (C5), over 5f, at Wolverhampton on March 7th last. Backing up off a disappointing run over course and distance the previous day, this four year old gelded son of Captain Gerrard, was dropped back into claiming company, for what looked a very winnable contest on paper.

Slow to stride, Doyle was quick to go down the inside of runners, not far off the early pace set by Secret Millionaire, who got the better of an early tussle for the lead with Decent Fella. Chased along passing the three pole, Scoreline was briefly outpaced going past the halfway point where Decent Fella took over at the head of affairs. Stoked up passing the two pole, Scoreline still looked to have plenty on his plate as he slung into the home straight in fifth place, some two lengths down. With four horses in line as this race entered its climax inside the final furlong, Doyle got the most from his mount and using only hands and heels, he gathered in Decent Fella, Yair Hill and Secret Millionaire well inside the final 100 yards.

Ridden out, Doyle had little concern as the line approached, going on to win readily by some three quarters of a length from Yair Hill back in second place. It was a further one and a quarter lengths back to Secret Millionaire in third place.

Recording his fourth win in total, Scoreline has now done all his winning over the minimum 5f trip. With wins on polytrack, fibresand and turf, O'Meara has many options going forward with his charge rated 70 in handicaps, having won off 68 in the not too distant past. Josh Doyle, winning jockey, said, "It just didn't happen for Scoreline last night but he was only beaten five lengths. It panned out better for him today and he picked up well when I needed him to."

UK Flat/Jumps 2014 = 88.



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