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Week 6 for Avondhu area connections saw a total of 10 winners recorded, with Jonjo O’Neill hitting stride with an impressive 5 winners.

WEEK 6: MONDAY, 2 FEB – SUNDAY, 8 FEB

Another 10 winners combined to report on from Avondhu area locals based in the UK. This week we feature wins from natives of Castletownroche (5), Kilworth (2), Killeagh (1), Fermoy (1) and Liscarroll (1). Our combined total for 2015 now sits on 45 winners.

McLERNON LIFTS USTICA HOME IN A THRILLER

Liscarroll native and jump jockey, Richie McLernon, rode his 10th winner of the season, aboard the Jonjo O'Neill trained Ustica (5/2), who took the 10 runner, 32Red Maiden Hurdle (C5), over 20.5f at Uttoxeter, on February 7th last.

Coming here off a near three month break and having only his second start over hurdles, this five year old gelded son of Trans Island, had already won his bumper and placed fourth in the Goffs Landrover Bumper, at Punchestown, back in April 2014. Looking the pick of the paddock, McLernon settled his mount in about fifth position, off a steady pace, set by race favourite Weststreet. An early mistake at the third fight was a slight setback for Ustica, who didn't lose any momentum and if anything, jumped his way closer to the main protagonists, finding himself in second place just off the leader, passing the winning post first time around.

A tightly packed field strode down to the fifth flight of hurdles where the pace lifted. Travelling well in hand, McLernon was anxious to keep his inside posse, getting into a squirming match with Westend Star. All the while, Jalingo caught the eye, travelling strongly just behind the leaders and looking the main threat. McLernon quickly came upsides Weststreet to challenge for the lead entering the home straight, but Jalingo joined in to his outside and suddenly we had what looked like a great race on our hands.

Over three out and three horses jumped in unison, neither giving way to the other as they galloped on down over two out, where again nothing could separate Jalingo, Ustica and Weststreet. Still all to play for over the last, each horse jumped cleanly and it was now down to sheer guts on the run-in.

Weststreet was the first to cry enough as the intimidating Ustica just edged his nose in front of Jalingo. All out, Ustica battled on bravely and once ahead never looked like giving up the lead. With the official winning margin a nose, Ustica, Jalingo and Weststreet treated viewers to a thrilling race where race riding was seen at its best.

Recording his second win from just four starts, Ustica looks a horse with a future over hurdles and fences. With Jalingo rated 128, it could be presumed that Ustica will start life in handicaps off this kind of mark. A €13,000 three year old, Ustica's dam is a half sister to Irish Grand National winner, Insure.

Jonjo O'Neill's horses are back in great form and the Castletownroche native recorded another four winners in Week 6, which included a Huntingdon treble on February 5th. The first winner came with the A.P. McCoy ridden, Capard King (9/4f), who won the 32RedSport Handicap Hurdle (C4), over 26f, breaking his maiden tag in the process.

The double came up from another McCoy ridden inmate, this time in the shape of Forthefunofit (2/1f), who took the 32RedSport Handicap Hurdle (C2), over 20.5f. Having only his second start in a handicap, this J.P. McManus owned gelding made short work of his rivals here off a mark of 124.

A great day was complete when the Wayne Hutchinson ridden, Catching On (9/2), brought up the treble, taking the 32Red Novices' Handicap Chase (C4), over 24f. Dropped 8lb by the handicapper after his last run, Catching On won easily here and will no doubt feel the wrath of the assessor, after this, his first handicap chase win.

O'Neill's fifth and final winner of the week came with the A.P. McCoy ridden, Minella Rocco (4/1), who took the Racing UK Novices' Hurdle (C4) over 21f, at Kempton on Feb 6th last. Making his racecourse debut after a successful point-to-point debut win at the Horse and Jockey, Thurles, this son of Shirocco was impressive on the eye in both talent and looks. Having cost £260,000, he has the scope to develop into a top staying chaser. O'Neill now sits on the 70 winner mark for the season.

MERDON BOOKS PLACE IN FAST TRACK FINAL

Killeagh native and flat jockey, Liam Keniry, rode his seventh winner of 2015, aboard the David Elsworth trained Merdon Castle (7/2), who went onto take the valuable 8 runner, Totepool Conditions Stakes (C2) over 5f, at Chelmsford on February 4th last. Coming into this race off the back of a good second to a 104 rated horse, on seasonal debut, at Kempton last time out, this three year old Acclamation colt, had no such rival to contend with here, back over the minimum trip of 5f. Already rated 95 himself, Merdon Castle looked somewhat fractious in the stalls, rearing up back on his hocks just before the gates opened.

A tardy start didn't help matters and Keniry was at pains to make up the lost ground well before the first bend. With Apache Storm leading the sprint to the first bend, Keniry managed to place his mount in second place leaving the first turn. Not hanging about, Apache Storm set a solid gallop but still had a few horses on the bridle approaching the home turn, fully two furlongs from home. Ridden to challenge on straightening up for this long run to the line, Merdon Castle was soon alongside Apache Storm, who hung fire in towards the far rail. As both horses had a ding-dong battle well inside the final furlong, it was Merdon Castle who showed the most resolution, pushing ahead with just 50yds to go and going onto win by a cheeky neck at the line. It was a further half a length back to Anonymous John in third place.

Recording his second synthetic surface win over 5f , from just five starts, this Jeff Smith owned and bred colt looks a triple figure sprinter in the making and he will no doubt show up at Lingfield on Good Friday for the Fast-Track Championship Final.

Liam Keniry, winning rider, went onto say, "Merdon Castle was a bit anxious in the stalls and I had to use him up early. They went a good pace and he stayed on well in the straight."

CONSISTENT BARYE IMPRESSES UNDER LANE

Kilworth native and flat jockey, Martin Lane, brought home two winners last week, taking his 2015 total onto the 6 winner mark. His most notable winner came aboard the David Simcock trained Barye (2/1f), who took the 6 runner Totepool Handicap (C4), over 10f, at Chelmsford on February 5th last.

Already a maiden winner and coming into this race off the back of a good second last time out, at Wolverhampton, this four year old gelded son of Archipenko, was sent to post a solid favourite for this competitive contest. Held up in last early doors off a slow pace set by Mica Mika, Lane was content to bide his time and let the race develop in front of him. With little or no change in the order passing the halfway point, the pace lifted slightly as the field ran two abreast in three groups, with Barye still sitting in last position, some four lengths off the leader.

Anxious not to get done for toe off a slow pace, Lane began his move well before entering the top of the home straight, where Topamichi took over in front from the long time leader Mica Mika. Challenging widest of all, Barye swamped the field, arriving there full of running and quickly put this race to bed, going clear of his rivals well inside the final furlong. Edging slightly left, Lane was in full control as he eased his mount close home for an impressive three length win. Topamichi hung on well for second.

A good performance from the Anthony Hogarth owned gelding, who did what no other horse could do at Chelmsford all evening, that was win from behind. With both his wins now coming on a synthetic surface, Barye will have some good opportunities to follow up in the coming weeks. Rated 77 here, he still looks to have a bit up his sleeve on the handicapper.

Martin Lane, speaking to The Avondhu, said, "Barye has always worked better than he's ran, even though he's a consistent type. The smaller field and the deeper surface really suited him and he won well."

Lane's second winner came aboard the Jeremy Gask trained, New Leyf (9/2), who went onto win the 8 runner Racing UK Handicap (C5), over 6f, at Kempton Park on February 3rd last. Becoming somewhat of a course specialist, New Leyf has now won four times on Kempton's synthetic surface. This was Lane's first ride on the 9 year old Kheleyf gelding.

CLEVER FINDS MAGIC LATE ON FOR MAIDEN WIN

Fermoy native and trainer, David O'Meara, recorded his fifth winner of 2015, with the Danny Tudhope ridden Clever Love (3/1), who took the 7 runner Unibet Maiden Stakes (C6), over 6f, at Wolverhampton on February 6th last.

Making his debut for O'Meara, this three year old grey gelded son of Silver Frost, had shown promise in a Sandown maiden, finishing second in a better race, over seven furlongs, back in July 2014.

Well away from the outset, Tudhope could have made it, but instead reined back his mount into second place, just off the early pace, set by Powerfulstorm. Always in a stalking position, going well within himself, Clever Love strode purposely past the halfway mark with the leader seemingly well covered in front of him.

As the race hotted up approaching the two furlong marker, Tudhope got busy in the saddle as Powerfulstorm led off the home turn. All the while race favourite, Rialto Magic, had a dream run up the inside, while Tudhope swung widest of all, losing precious ground on both horses in front of him. As Rialto Magic just edged ahead inside the final furlong, Clever Love was doing all his best work towards the business end of this race. Joining Rialto Magic well inside the last 100yds, Clever Love nosed ahead with 50yds to go and was always holding the runner-up, going onto win by a neck in the end. A photo was called for to confirm the result, but there was little doubt this Sterling Racing owned gelding had broken his maiden tag here at the eighth attempt.

Rated 70, Clever Love still hasn't contested a handicap race and this will no doubt be his next port of call. A step up in trip looks in order also and if he finds the necessary improvement, as most of O'Meara's do, he should be holding his own in better company.

UK flat/jumps 2015 = 45.

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