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An impressive win in the 8 runner Ladbrokes Handicap (C4) at Wolverhampton during Week 47 – one of 8 winners abroad from area connections.

WEEK 47: 17th-23rd NOVEMBER '14

Another 8 winners combined to report on from Avondhu area locals based in the UK, with Kilworth native, Martin Lane taking the riding honours last week with three winners. Our combined total for 2014 now stands on 430 winners.

NOTHING SHY ABOUT RON UNDER LANE

Kilworth native and flat jockey, Martin Lane, kept up his good good start to the new all weather season, riding three winners and taking his UK 2014 total onto the 43 winner mark. His most notable winner came aboard the George Margarson trained, Shyron (13/2), who went on to take the 8 runner, Ladbrokes Handicap (C4), over 7f at Wolverhampton, on November 17th last.

Coming here off the back of an almost 7 month break, this home-bred three year old gelded son of Byron, was making his Tapeta debut, having previously won twice at the course on polytrack. Breaking a stride slowly from the gates, Lane settled his mount in about fifth position, up the inside rail off what looked an even pace, set by Repetition. Travelling nicely in Lane's hands, Shyron took closer order in fourth place past the halfway mark and on reaching the two pole, Lane got down to business, asking his mount for maximum effort off the home turn bend.

With the field fanning out towards the centre of the course, a huge gap appeared up the inside of the field as Repetition still held sway in front. Ridden to gain the lead just inside the final furlong, Shyron responded well to his jockey’s urgings, going on in front again when challenged inside the final 100yds by First Experience, who came late and fast. Duly holding off that rival, the Francis Butler owned and bred gelding, stayed on strongly to win readily by some one and a half lengths. It was a further one length back to Rasaman in third place position.

Winning his fourth race from just 10 starts and now 3 from 4 at Wolverhampton, Shyron was defying his highest handicap mark of 80 here. He still looks unexposed on a synthetic surface and may find yet more again once reassessed by the handicapper. Martin Lane, winning rider, went onto say, "Shyron has gone well fresh in the past and he has been very competitive in his races except for last time out, but every horse is allowed one poor run."

Lane went onto record another two winners, firstly aboard the David Simcock trained, Miss Understood (4/1), who no longer stands a maiden, after taking the Racing UK Maiden Auction Stakes (C6), over 8f at Kempton, on November 19th. And finally, Lane's third winner came aboard the Charlie Fellows trained Barbary (9/4f), who went onto take the TitanBet Handicap (C6), over 8f, also at Kempton, on November 20th last.

RING OF FIRE OFF TO A FLYER

Freemount native and jump jockey, Conor Ring, recorded his third winner of the season aboard the Evan Williams trained, Firebird Flyer (9/4Jf), who took the 5 runner 32Red Handicap Hurdle (C3), over 22f at Ffos Las, on November 21st last.

Returning to the track after a summer break and back over hurdles after falling last time out over fences, this seven year old gelded son of Winged Love, was well supported in this fair handicap hurdle, run in very testing ground conditions. Dropped out last in the early stages, as As De Fer took the field along at a very sedate pace, Ring was content to bide his time as the field passed the winning post first time around.

With the pace increasing slightly going over the sixth flight of hurdles, Rendl Beach put some pressure on As De Fer in the lead, with Firebird Flyer now taking closer order, as the field bunched up going over the seventh flight of hurdles. With Rendl Beach taking over at the head of affairs as As De Fer faded tamely, Firebird Flyer quickly moved smoothly into second place, stalking the new leader as they entered the home-straight and lined up for the final three hurdles.

Still some four lengths down over three out, Ring looked to have plenty in hand and switching his mount left to challenge going down to two out, he joined Rendl Beach in the air over the second last. Happy to sit upsides his rival going over the last flight of hurdles, Ring didn't move a muscle in the saddle as Firebird Flyer sauntered into the lead up the run-in, leaving Rendl Beach floundering in the mud. Eased close home, Firebird Flyer went onto win by almost two lengths and in the process, recorded his third course win and sixth in total.

Taking advantage of an 8lb lower mark over the smaller obstacles and considering his record when fresh as underwhelming, Firebird Flyer can now go onto better things again once reverting back to fences. Conor Ring, speaking to The Avondhu, said, "He loved that ground and will probably head straight to the Welsh National now."

ROYALE MOUNTS WINNING FRONTAL ASSAULT

Castletownroche native and trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, teamed up with Liscarroll native and jump jockey, Richie McLernon, with Mont Royale (20/1), who took the 10 runner Warwick Racecourse Handicap Hurdle (C4), over 19f at Warwick, on November 19th last.

Upped again in trip and dropped another 4lb in the handicap to 102, this six year old gelded son of Hurricane Run looked to be finding life tough in this grade of race since switching to handicap company in July this year. Making his intentions clear from the outset, McLernon, lined up at the head of the field and duly set out to make all, at a steady, controlled pace on the first circuit.

Jumping slicker than usual at his hurdles, Mont Royale, seemed to be enjoying this new tactic out on the lead and increasing the pace down the back straight, he had a lot of this field in trouble going to three out. With race favourite, Jayo Time seemingly the only horse to go with the Jackdaws’ inmate, McLernon kicked on again swinging into the home straight. Fluent again over the second last, Mont Royale still had a decisive three length lead going down to the last flight of hurdles. Not so fluent over the final obstacle, Mont Royale, was ridden out strongly up the short run-in and looking to idle a bit close home, he had one final challenger left in the shape of Shear Rock, who stormed home to get within three quarters of length of him at the post.

Never looking likely to be passed, Mont Royale kept a bit up his sleeve to record his first hurdle win and second win in total, after previously winning a Kelso bumper over a year ago for trainer Michael Smith. He still looks very much of interest once reassessed and may well have benefited from a brilliant front running ride, but his jumping looked the key ingredient here and a follow up wouldn't be out of the question.

O'Neill was recording his 58th winner of the season, with McLernon now sitting on the 6 winner mark.

MUNSTEAD TAKES PRIDE OF PLACE IN KENIRY 60

Killeagh native and flat jockey, Liam Keniry, took his winning total for 2014 onto the 60 winner mark, aboard the Andrew Balding trained, Munstead Pride (5/2), who went on to take the 8 runner Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden (C5), over 8f at Southwell, on November 18th last.

Having his first start on an all-weather surface, this home-bred two year old Sir Percy colt, came into this race off the back of a good run, in a Leicester maiden this October. Having acted well in testing ground conditions, Munstead Pride looked well suited to this fibresand surface, going to post second favourite, for what looked a very winnable contest.

Breaking well, Keniry, settled his mount just off the shoulder of race favourite and early leader, Toofeeg. After three furlongs this race changed dramatically, as for some reason, Toofeeg jinked sharply right, almost colliding with Munstead Pride. Liam Jones, Toofeeg's jockey, did well to stay in the saddle, as he lost an iron and gave up the lead to Keniry and Munstead Pride.

With the drama averted, Reetaj crept up the inside of Munstead Pride and as both horses entered the home straight, it was anyone's race. As the pair drew clear of their rivals all the way home, Munstead Pride slowly nudged his head in front inside the final two furlongs. Hanging left into Reetaj inside the final furlong, Munstead Pride was always doing enough to hold off his game rival. With experience no doubt aiding his cause, this Sir Gordon Brunton owned and bred colt, went onto win by one length at the line. It was a further 11 lengths back to the spooked Toofeeg in third place position.

Recording his first win, on this, his third start, Munstead Pride can now go onto better things through the winter months. He now qualifies for a handicap mark and a rating in the mid to high sixties may well follow from the assessor.

OLIVER MARCHES ON FOR VAUGHAN

Rockmills native and trainer, Ed Vaughan recorded his 19th winner of 2014 and his first winner of the new all-weather campaign, from just his second runner, with the Luke Morris ridden Oliver’s Mount (11/4f), who took the 11 runner TitanBet Handicap (C6), over 8f, at Kempton Park on November 20th last.

Back down in distance after a pleasing second in an amateur handicap at Lingfield last time out, this four year old gelded son of Mount Nelson was well away from an inside draw, settling back into midfield early doors, off an even pace, set by Rocky's Pride. Switched early by Morris off the fence, towards the outside of runners, Mount Nelson found himself in the third group of paired horses nearing the four furlong pole.

Travelling well and poised to challenge off the home turn, Morris made his move challenging wide into the home straight. Still on the bridle, he reeled in Rocky's Pride at the two pole and the pair strode clear with seemingly the race between them. Strongly ridden well inside the final furlong, Mount Nelson gradually got on top of a game Rocky's Pride, edging his head in front with all of 100yds to go. Staying on dourly, he was always holding the late finishing Dreaming Ahead, going onto win by a neck at the line. It was a further half a length back to Rocky's Pride in third place position. Recording his third win from 14 starts on the all-weather, this Alan Pickering owned gelding has now won on all three British polytracks, Kempton, Lingfield and Wolverhampton and has been in the first three on no less than 10 occasions.

Winning here off his highest handicap mark of 59, he has to improve again for his trainer, who keeps up his highly impressive win strike rate of 23% on UK all-weather tracks. Ed Vaughan, speaking to The Avondhu, said, "He probably got tired a bit inside the last half a furlong and should improve fitness wise. He will come back here on either the 4th or 8th of December."

UK flat/jumps 2014 = 423, Dubai = 3, Ireland = 2, Canada = 1, France = 1.

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