Report | Loughanmore 14th Oct 17

Following a lengthy delay to the first race of the Northern scene as a result of a shortage of one road ambulance, it was a home victory for the Wilson Dennison-owned Blue Flight in the Dennison Commercials Ltd four-year-old maiden seeing off the challenge of The Some Dance Kid by three lengths.

The Colin McKeever-trained winner provided the local handler along with his rider Derek O’Connor, with their first successes of the season. The son of Blue Bresil who is the second winner out of Lover flight, a half-sister to prolific 14-time winner Master Flight, had finished second at Portrush last March before running somewhat below par on his next outing at Loughanmore in April.

A relieved Colin McKeever said after the race; “He’s a very big horse and he strengthened up over the summer.  He had a wind problem but we have that sorted now.  I said to Wilson that he is a far better horse today than the day he was second in Portrush.  He will improve with the experience and will be a decent horse in time.  He stands over 17-hands and to do what he is doing now shows he is some horse.  He is for sale now”.

The northern winners continued when the John Woods-trained The White Volcano took the third race on the card, the Stonebridge Premium Feeds five-year-old gelding maiden.

Having failed to complete on his two starts during the Spring, the son of September Storm who sired six point-to-point winners last term was providing a first win of the season for his Wexford rider, Jimmy O’Rourke. The Philip White-owned and bred gelding led from the final fence to run out the easy 10 length winner over Some Response.

Co. Armagh-based handler Woods commented after the race; “He has always shown us plenty at home and we thought a lot of him.  The owner wasn’t able to come today so I will have to speak with him where we go next”.

The Wexford raiders registered their opening win of the season when Jamie Codd steered the Denis Murphy-owned and trained Frozen Motion to victory in the Jacksons Butcher Shop & Bakery five-and-six-year-old mares’ maiden.

The daughter of Black Sam Bellamy was placed at Dromahane on her last start in May and when challenged at the final fence by Absainte, the five-year-old battled hard to the line to win by half a length. Out of Katys Jools who is a full-sister to the Alan King-trained Bakbenscher, Frozen Motion was purchased for £8,500 at the Goffs UK Spring sale in 2016 by her handler.

“I thought she was unlucky last year at Dromahane and when Jamie got off her he said she will win races so hold on to her.  She had to battle on the run-in but she had plenty left in the locker.  She is a big, easy going mare that will improve no-end from that run.  She will head to the Cheltenham sales next” remarked Murphy after the race.

There was a somewhat surprising result in the Enviro Care N.I Ltd Open as the Peter Flood-trained Got The Nac made an impressive point-to-point debut to land proceedings by 12 lengths over Sambremont after the long odds-on favourite Felix Yonger pulled up on his seasonal reappearance.

Ridden to victory by Declan Lavery, the eight-year-old ex-English track recruit who had won a hurdle and a chase at Newcastle and Lingfield was carrying the colours of the handlers mum, Teresa Flood.

A delighted Peter Flood commented after the race; “We thought he would need the run today but that wasn’t the case. He is the type of horse that could win plenty of opens as he jumps and stays, and we have had similar types before.  Deckie (Lavery) got on well with him the other day so I gave him the ride and he did everything right.  He only cost me £2,500 at Ascot in March and he will run again in a point-to-point in a few weeks if he is not sold”.

The in-form Dermot McLoughlin, who has been enjoying a good run of success over the summer with his track runners took the fourth race on the card, the Islandbawn Winners Of Two with his six-year-old Captain CJ.

The son of Westerner has been a model of consistency for his connections to date having won on his previous two starts last season as well as further two placed runs. Carrying the colours of Fidelma O’Toole, the Larry O’Carroll-ridden winner took up the lead before the final fence before going to secure a six length win over the Ian Ferguson-trained Manetti.

Dermot McLoughlin stated afterwards; “He’s a lovely horse and he summered well.  He is still improving and he wasn’t fully wound up so that will bring him on.  It’s up to the owners now what they want to do as he is a very talented horse.  He could go for a winners of three or an open race next or I’d be happy to go to the track if they wanted to go down that route”.

Northern rider, Noel McParlan combined with Noel Kelly in the Lagan Cement Products Ltd six-year-old maiden when Milan Dancer scored by a length over Another Day Done. Owned by Mrs C. Kelly, the six-year-old daughter of Milan was returning to point-to-points having been placed in three starts on the track since February 2016.

A delighted Kelly reported afterwards; “She is a lovely mare who is unlucky not to have won a few times before now.  She is a big mare and still getting stronger.  She is returning from a good break and that was what she needed.  She was always doing enough in front and if anything came to challenge she went on again.  She could head back to the track now”.