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35 winners to date this season for Castletownroche native, Jonjo O’Neill, following a recent double at Warwick.

WEEK 39: MONDAY, 21 – SUNDAY, 27th SEPTEMBER

Another 7 winners to report on from Avondhu area locals based in the UK, with Liam Keniry, Martin Lane and Jonjo O'Neill recording two winners each and Ed Vaughan rowing in with one winner. This takes our 2015 combined tally onto the 364 winner mark.

DURSEY RACKS UP O'NEILL DOUBLE UNDER BRILLIANT JOHNSON

Castletownroche native and Cheltenham trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, registered two winners last week, both on the same card, the most notable of which came from the Richard Johnson ridden, Dursey Sound (7/1), who went onto take the 8 runner Winner H'cap Chase (C3), over 25.5f, at Warwick on September 22nd last.

Going into this race with a regressive profile and off a long losing run, this seven year old gelded son of Fermoy based stallion, Milan, needed to put his best foot forward if he was to be anyway competitive in this hot looking contest. With 20 fences to negotiate, Johnson was happy to bide his time in rear, as the early pace was set out by Highland Lodge. Jumping economically on the first circuit, Dursey Sound was never going to be put into this race in a hurry, as the lead changed hands on two occasions on reaching the winning post first time around.

With Kilbree Kid now in front and pressing on from a close up Belmount, early leader Highland Lodge was let down by his jumping and struggled to get back at the leaders from seven out. As both Kilbree Kid and Belmount took each other on, they opened up a ten length gap on the pursuers going to four out, where a great leap by Belmount put him firmly in the lead. With only two closers coming out of the pack, it was Dursey Sound and Johnson who emerged the likely threat facing up to the second last.

Travelling well approaching two out, Dursey Sound was produced by Johnson to come alongside Belmount in mid air. Edging ahead by only half a length between the last two fences, Dursey Sound was struggling to put this race to bed, as Belmount, under a determined Sam Twiston-Davies, again came upsides over the final fence. With a head to head duel developing up the run-in, Belmount again poked his neck in front only for Dursey Sound under a power packed Johnson ride, to come back late and lift his mount ahead close home. A half length was the official winning margin with both horses deserving much plaudits for a great spectacle. It was a further 19 lengths back to the third placed horse, Garrahalish.

Recording his 5th win in total from 25 starts, this J.P. McManus owned gelding, last tasted success back in August 2014. Rated 141 in the past and placed at Listed level over fences, Dursey Sound now rates 122 and may offer more in future races.

Jonjo O'Neill, winning trainer, went onto say, "Dursey Sound is a good horse when he's right but he walks through fences for some reason. It's nice to get his head back in front."

O'Neill's second winner was the first leg of that Warwick double with the Patrick Cowley ridden, Mr Shantu (8/1), who took the Winner H'cap Hurdle (C4), over 26f. He was following up his win at Worcester back in June and has now won three of his last 4 starts.

O'Neill now moves on to the 35 winner mark for the season.

LANE TURNS OVER NEW LEYF

Kilworth native and flat jockey, Martin Lane, recorded a further two winners in Week 39, taking his 2015 winning rides total onto the 38 winner mark. His most notable success came aboard the Jeremy Gask trained, New Leyf (10/1), who went onto take the 11 runner 32 Red H'cap (C5), over 6f, at Kempton Park on September 22nd last.

Steadily dropping down the handicap, to a figure one pound below his last winning mark, this 9 year old gelded son of Kheleyf was back on familiar territory, after signs of a return to form, with a close up third last time out.

Slow to stride and somewhat awkward from the gate, New Leyf found himself last early doors, off what looked a solid gallop, set by Alhella. Getting plenty kick back and with that usual high head carriage evident, New Leyf was switched wide to challenge off the home turn, with fully three furlongs to go. Keeping widest of all and guaranteeing himself a clear run home, Lane looked to gather in as much of this field as possible with the runway slowly running out. Coming with a withering run well over one furlong out, New Leyf inhaled all his rivals, except the game leader, Alhella, who still held onto the lead with all he had, 50yds from the line.

Not to be denied, New Leyf came upsides the leader with 20yds to go and dropped his head in front right on the line. A fine ride again from Lane, saw this Horses First Racing owned gelding record his 8th win in total from 75 starts. He has now won all his 6 synthetic surface races at Kempton Park and his liking for the track has yielded a 22% winning strike rate. With an almost four year gap coming into 2015 since his last win, New Leyf has now won three races since February. He may now have to step up in class after reassessment and it remains to be seen if he can follow up.

Martin Lane, winning rider, speaking to The Avondhu, said, "New Leyf is a tricky customer and has his own mind on things which was reflected by him trading 1000/1 in running. With six lengths to make up at the furlong pole he decided it was a go day and got his head in front right on the line."

Lane went onto ride a second winner in the shape of the David Dennis trained, My Mo (5/2f), a horse we had wrote about last week, who duly followed up his Chelmsford win under a penalty, by making all in The Ladbrokes Life H'cap (C6), over 9.5f, at Wolverhampton on September 25th last.

MAYDAY PRODUCED LATE TO ANSWER KENIRY'S CALL

Killeagh native and flat jockey, Liam Keniry, continues in good form with two winners bagged last week, this taking his 2015 winning rides total onto the 44 winner mark. His most notable winner came aboard the George Baker trained, Mister Mayday (8/1), who took the 11 runner, Highfields H'cap (C5), over 8.5f, at Leicester on September 21st last.

Coming here off the back of a solid Bath second last time out and four pound higher for the privilege, this four year old gelded son of Kheleyf, was bidding to win here off an all time high handicap mark. Well away from an inside stall position, Keniry was quick to adopt hold up tactics, dropping his mount towards the rear of runners in about 9th place, off a good gallop, set eventually by Comanche Chieftain. Hassled for the lead with the close up and keen going Virtual Reality, Comanche Chieftain was forced into going half a stride quicker than ideal in testing enough ground conditions. This had the added effect of stretching the field out early, suiting Mister Mayday's quirky style of racing and setting up this race nicely for a closer.

Going to halfway and Keniry made his move up the inside of runners, right on the far side running rail. Travelling as well as any and with a wall of horses in front of him going to the two pole, Mister Mayday needed a gap to open up sooner rather than later. Challenging between both Comanche Chieftain and Virtual Reality, Mister Mayday saw daylight and hitting the front with 100yds to go, he did his usual wandering around and thinking 'I've done enough' in the closing stages, to almost let his rivals back in.

Holding out well in the end, Mister Mayday went onto win by three-quarters of a length, from Compton Mill back in second. It was a further one length back to Lu's Buddy, in third.

Recording his fourth win in total from 23 starts, Mister Mayday put in a career best performance here and improved his highest winning handicap mark, of 67, by six pounds here. He looks to have more to offer going forward with a similar race set up.

Liam Keniry, speaking to The Avondhu, went onto say, "Mister Mayday is a tricky horse, he travels great but pulls himself up after two strides in front. You have to follow the right horse through on him."

Keniry's second winner came aboard the Michael Madgwick trained Multigifted (8/1), who broke her maiden tag, when taking the 32 Red H'cap (C6), over 6f, at Kempton Park on September 22nd last.

CAPRICE FINALLY SHOWS HOME WORK FOR VAUGHAN

Rockmills native and Newmarket trainer, Ed Vaughan, recorded his 13th winner of 2015, with the Edward Greatrex ridden, Cafe Caprice (16/1), who scored in the 9 runner Scoop Six Soccer H'cap (C6), over 13.5f, at Chelmsford on September 26th last. Upped in trip again and without previously tried headgear, this three year old Duke Of Marmalade filly, looked to have it all to do here from a wide draw position.

Well away and pushed up into about fifth position early, off a slow pace set by My Mistress, Cafe Caprice and Greatrex were already three wide losing ground and struggling to hold their position off each bend. Not happy with the pace, jockey Martin Harley, rushed Sky Rose up the outside of the field, joining the leaders girth with a circuit to go. This had the effect of increasing the pace slightly putting more pressure on Cafe Caprice to hold her position.

Continually niggled along and finding herself now back in 7th position, Cafe Caprice was pushed five wide by the attentions of Felice and this possibly helped her grab the bit more and race. Going to the half mile pole and Greatrex was getting a response from his mount as she moved up the outside, into third position, entering the final three furlongs. Coming up the centre of the track and switched inside the new leader, Sky Rose, Cafe Caprice steadily came to challenge from well inside the final furlong. Coming upsides and passing Sky Rose with half a furlong to go, this Machell Place Partners owned filly, held on well, to win by a neck from Bracken Brae, back in second. It was a further neck back to Sky Rose, in third.

Recording her first win, on this, her 7th start, Cafe Caprice could be marked up for this performance as she seemed to cover more ground than any other horse in the race. She looks on the right side of the handicapper on 46 and this win could bring about plenty of improvement. She also looks to want more ground as the further they went the better she went.

Ed Vaughan, speaking to The Avondhu, said, "It's great to get her head in front. She shows more ability in her homework than she does on the track. She will return here on October 15th for a 0-60 three year old only handicap over 16f."

UK flat/jumps 2015 = 360, Ireland = 1, France = 2, Canada = 1.

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