Week 12 18th-24th March 2013

It was back to the daily grind for local jockeys and trainers after Cheltenham, but again the weather was going to have the final say. The start of the flat turf season at Doncaster last Friday becoming the latest weather victim, with the loss of Saturday’s Lincoln card due to heavy snow. Four local winners to report on this week.

LANE FOLLOWS UP ON DUQUE

Kilworth flat jockey, Martin Lane followed up his win on March 9th on Admirable Duque for trainer Dominic Ffrench Davis. Back at Wolverhampton over the same 14 furlong distance, Admirable Duque was sent off the 6/4 favourite. Carrying just a 2 pound penalty, this son of Selkirk only had three rivals to contend with in this class 5 handicap. This was reduced to two rivals after Waving was left 25 lengths at the starting gate. This left Jezza to lead at a funeral early pace, tracked in second by Lane.

Sent into the lead at the top of the home straight, Admirable Duque ran out a very easy four and a half length winner from Jezza, this despite wandering around when in front. The handicapper may not be so lenient when Ffrench-Davis’s charge next appears on the racecourse. The trainer went onto say, “He would have done more in a work out at home as they went no gallop. He is in again in the middle of next week at Southwell and Lingfield and will run at one of them.”

This was Lane’s 11th winner of the season.

KENIRY KEEPS GOOD RUN GOING

One man who is keeping his good form going is Killeagh flat jockey Liam Keniry. He was again on the score sheet with a brace of winners on the all-weather last week.

Firstly at Kempton Park last Monday week and Keniry was given the leg up on the Eve Johnson-Houghton trained Spillway (15/8f) in a Class 5 maiden. Solid favourite in the betting ring, this Rail Link 3 year old colt was upped in trip to ten furlongs on this, his third run, after being beaten a nose over eight furlongs at Lingfield on his last start.

Jumping from the stalls, Spillway was keen in the rear off a very steady pace. Making eye catching headway from three furlongs out, Keniry asked his mount to go about his business at the one furlong pole. Spillway responded well for a comfortable one and a quarter length win from Vastly and Jim Crowley with Punditry back in third.

Spillway looks the type to progress further on turf this season and can expect a rating in the mid 70s, which shouldn’t hinder him too much in handicaps. Eve Johnson Houghton said, “It was a weak maiden and Spillway is still a big baby, but hopefully he will improve through the year.”

Two days later and Keniry was again in action at Kempton Park riding Thane Of Cawdor for Great Shefford trainer and fellow Irishman, Joseph Tuite. In what turned out to be a lively betting heat for this low grade handicap, Thane Of Cawdor again found his supporters in the ring and was sent of 7/2f. Still a maiden after eleven attempts, losing the faith didn’t seem an option for many people as this horse looked the best handicapped in the field.

Held up in midfield, Keniry made his move two furlongs out when he angled his mount sharply left up the home straight. Making progress over one furlong out, Keniry produced Thane Of Cawdor to lead inside the last 100 yards for a three quarters length win, from Lytham and Fergus Sweeney with El Bravo back in third.

A bullish Tuite said, “He’s a lovely horse and winning will do him a lot of good. I thought he’d win his first race for us and he met one, then he met one again last time. Stepping up in trip has obviously helped, and he’ll win again.” This was Liam’s 17th winner of the season.

McLERNON STILL ON CLOUD NINE

Moving onto Warwick and Liscarroll jump jockey Richie McLernon was again in the winners’ circle riding Cloudingstar, for his boss Castletownroche native Jonjo O’Neill.

Sent off a rather unfancied 16/1, this son of Cloudings was having his first start over hurdles having been placed in a Dromahane point-to-point in late December 2012. Subsequently sold with a price tag of €75,000 and being a half brother to three time grade 1 winner Flemenstar, this grey six year old stood out on pedigree.

Upped in distance to 2m 5f, Cloudingstar was held up in touch and began to make steady headway from the 7th hurdle. Travelling well in McLernon’s hands, he challenged two out and was soon in command at the last to win with a bit in hand by four lengths, from Boss In Boots with Rigolo Ville back in third.

Looking every bit a chaser of the future, it will be interesting to see where connections go from here. If the family are anything to go by, he could be anything.

O’Neill went on to say, “I think he needs it really soft and that was much more like it. I was a bit disappointed after his bumper run but he’s a chaser for the future.”

This was McLernon’s 17th winner of the season and O’Neill’s 85th.

O’MEARA’S PENITENT SET FOR GODOLPHIN MILE

Fermoy native, David O’Meara will this week send his stable star Penitent to Dubai for the Group 2 Godolphin Mile. The Group 2 winning son of Kyllachy will run this Saturday on the Tapeta surface at Meydan (1.10pm) all going well. We wish them all the best along with jockey Daniel Tudhope who again rides.