Report | Loughrea 15th Oct 17

Colin Bowe and Barry O’Neill continued their fine start to the season when Rath An Iuir, placed on his two starts last term, surged to the front literally on the line to beat the likely looking winner Passageaway in the Costello Family four-year-old maiden.

Rath An Iuir, who is a half-brother to four-time track winner Insignia, was bought by his handler at the 2016 Land Rover sale for €62,000. “This horse was babyish last year and he was weak too”, said Bowe. “He is a lovely horse that has improved and he will now be sold after that”.

Five-horse handler Heather Kiernan, on the mark at her local Castletown-Geoghegan meeting seven days earlier with Presentingprincess, continued her rich vein of form by saddling Cubanera to score in the Rosshill Farm Stud, The Thatch Bar, Oranmore and KCL Building Contractors five-year-old-and-upwards mares’ maiden.

Owned by Andrew Kiernan, who is no relation of the winning handler, the daughter of Milan led from two-out to beat Cloudy Day by a length supplying the talented Timmy Love, grandson of Irish National winning trainer Dot love, with his second career success in the saddle. A delighted Heather commented after the race; “We will go for a mares’ winner’s race with her now”.

Canyouringmeback, now trained by Rosin Hickey for Con McSweeney, was one of two favourites to oblige on the day. The son of Robin Des Pres initiated the opening leg of a two-timer for Jamie Codd by leading before the last to boat the rallying long-time leader Well Tom by two and a half lengths in the The Pier Head Bar & Restaurant five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Canyouringmeback, who was bought for €7,000 at the 2015 August sale, finished third at Killeagh on his only start last spring when under the care of Mary Twohig. “He had a good run at Killeagh, he has always been held in high regard and he is now sales bound”, said McSweeney’s brother John.

Jamie Codd brought up his two-timer by teaming up with Adrian Maguire to win the Jim Derwin Winner of One when Knockraha Boss took the five-runner event. However, Robin The Hare, having an initial start for Shark Hanlon, was still travelling well in the lead until falling two-out.

The son of Golan was then left clear to beat Chinatown Boy by eight lengths having given his supporters a scare by erring at the last fence. “It’s great to win. We will tipp away in point-to-points with him for now and we will have a look at the Limerick hunters chase over Christmas”, remarked Maguire.

The Eugene O’Sullivan-trained A Decent Excuse supplemented his Castletown-Geoghegan success from seven days earlier, by leading from after two out with his handler’s 17 year-old nephew Michael O’Sullivan, to beat Western Man by six lengths in the Renvyle House Hotel & Resort and MacDermot & Allen Solicitors open lightweight. The Alan Potts-owned Venetien De Mai, who was sent off favourite, returned a half-length a drift in third spot.

Handler O ‘Sullivan said after the race; “He was in such good form during the week that we said we would run him. We will keep him going now and the plan is the hunters chase at Cork next month. Long term I would love to run him in the Cheltenham Foxhunters”.

Eugene revealed that A Decent Excuse will be ridden from now on by his daughter Maxine as Michael O’Sullivan is studying for his leaving cert at the Patrician Academy in Mallow.

Just two of the five runners in the Easyfix & The Turf Club six-year-old-and-upwards maiden for novice riders completed the course and four-year-old maiden runner-up Passageway’s handler Pat Doyle supplied the winner in the form of Rockmount Rocker who was owned and bred by lifelong Waterford hunt member, Jenny Hunt.

Rockmount Rocker, partnered by Bill Shanahan who now works with handler Pat Doyle, led from the tenth fence and although far from foot-perfect on occasion, the son of Albano beat Troll D’Oudairies by 15 lengths. “It’s great for the owner”, said winning handler Doyle. “It’s also nice for Bill who works with me and is a good lad”.