Declan Queally attained a notable milestone by recording a 200th points success aboard Fenno’s Storm, whom he also trains, in the Fernhill House Hotel & Gardens open. The recent Tallow runner-up Fenno’s Storm made his way to the front after two out and he clearly had the measure of Murdo Mackenzie on the approach to the final fence with three lengths duly separating the pair.
“He’s as tough as nails and he will now go for the Tetretema Cup at Gowran Park next month, “disclosed Queally of the Maurice Walsh-owned Fenno’s Storm, who has now amassed four points victories. “He will love it around there and his jumping is also improving.”
The Eric McNamara-trained Owl Creek Bridge readily justified favouritism in the hands of John Barry in the Barryroe Co-op & Chris McCarthy Greenbuild Ltd five-year-old geldings’ maiden. The Gold Well-sired Owl Creek Bridge, who was sent off favourite on his initial outing at Dromahane over three months earlier, always travelled well in third or fourth spot as Rocky’s Silver and Dix De Der cut out the running.
The triumphant bay went to the head of affairs before two out and he was clearly possessing all the aces on the run to the final fence as he ultimately fought off the renewed effort of Rocky’s Silver by two lengths in the silks of Askeaton-based bookmaker Brian Collins.
The triumphant bay went to the head of affairs before two out and he was clearly possessing all the aces on the run to the final fence as he ultimately fought off the renewed effort of Rocky’s Silver by two lengths in the silks of Askeaton-based bookmaker Brian Collins.
“He is a lovely horse that we thought would win on his first run at Dromahane," confessed McNamara of Owl Creek Bridge, an early April foal from the same family as Balder Success and Talego that was acquired for €38,000 at the 2016 Derby sale.
“But, he was sick after that race and we had to put him on a course of anti-biotics. He has been working well at home recently and he could now go to the Cheltenham festival sale next month, or if not, he will run in a bumper.”
“But, he was sick after that race and we had to put him on a course of anti-biotics. He has been working well at home recently and he could now go to the Cheltenham festival sale next month, or if not, he will run in a bumper.”
Michael Winters’ ex-hurdler Harmoney Row made a winning points debut under Chris O’Donovan in the Springmount Stud & AIB Bank six-year-old geldings’ maiden. The six-year-old Harmoney Row, who failed to feature in two maiden hurdle forays last spring, disputed the running from the fourth fence.
The winning son of Winged Love stylishly asserted on the descent to the final fence to dispose of fellow pacesetter Nine O Three by eight lengths in the colours of the Boro Rovers Syndicate that comprises Pat Breen, Brendan McNamara, Tom Casagrandre and Donie Sheahan.
Winters reported: “The late Con Cott from Churchtown, who only died last week, was also a member of the syndicate that own this horse. He used to get an awful slagging from the fellows in the pub about this horse, but we will do the work for him now. We will aim him at the hunters chase in Tipperary in a couple of months’ time.”
The winning son of Winged Love stylishly asserted on the descent to the final fence to dispose of fellow pacesetter Nine O Three by eight lengths in the colours of the Boro Rovers Syndicate that comprises Pat Breen, Brendan McNamara, Tom Casagrandre and Donie Sheahan.
Winters reported: “The late Con Cott from Churchtown, who only died last week, was also a member of the syndicate that own this horse. He used to get an awful slagging from the fellows in the pub about this horse, but we will do the work for him now. We will aim him at the hunters chase in Tipperary in a couple of months’ time.”
Trio For Rio initiated a two-timer for handler Jimmy Mangan by stepping up from his third-placed effort at Tallow three weeks earlier by returning to the number one slot in the hands of Eoin O’Brien in the Bandon Motors & Bandon Co-op five-year-old-and-upwards adjacent maiden.
Trio For Rio made most of the running and, although error-prone on occasion, the winning son of Getaway stormed back to the front after the penultimate obstacle to beat ex-track mare Steak And Spuds by six lengths.
“He’s not really a frontrunner, but he will learn away the whole time and he will now go for a winners race," said Mangan of Trio For Rio, owned and bred by the meeting’s honorary treasurer Barry O’Driscoll.
Trio For Rio made most of the running and, although error-prone on occasion, the winning son of Getaway stormed back to the front after the penultimate obstacle to beat ex-track mare Steak And Spuds by six lengths.
“He’s not really a frontrunner, but he will learn away the whole time and he will now go for a winners race," said Mangan of Trio For Rio, owned and bred by the meeting’s honorary treasurer Barry O’Driscoll.
Ballybrowney Walk brought up the concluding leg of Jimmy Mangan’s brace by making a triumphant hunt racing debut with the in-form James Hannon in the Glenview.ie five-year-old mares’ maiden. Ballybrowney Walk, who had the benefit of three bumper outings last year, took up the running at the seventh fence. She wasn’t headed thereafter and it was plainly apparent that she was containing runner-up Honest To Goodness from the second last, two lengths the winning margin.
“I only have her three months and the Gain Mares’ Final at Ballynoe next month will be the target now, “said Mangan of Ballybrowney Walk, representing Patrick Pyne from Rathcormac.
“I only have her three months and the Gain Mares’ Final at Ballynoe next month will be the target now, “said Mangan of Ballybrowney Walk, representing Patrick Pyne from Rathcormac.
For many it was a case of the best wine being reserved until last as the David Kiely-trained five-year-old Definite Dilemma enhanced his burgeoning reputation by winning the Kevin OLeary & McLauglins Medical Hall, Bandon Winner of One in a common canter.
Definite Dilemma, owned by his handler’s brother-in-law Martin Houlihan and partnered by the latter’s 19-year-old son Conor, made a victorious debut in the Dungarvan confined hunt maiden four weeks earlier. This event reflected a step up in class, but the result was never in doubt once the patiently-ridden Definite Dilemma eased to the front after two out en-route to disposing of the mare Piece A Cake by a distance.
Definite Dilemma, owned by his handler’s brother-in-law Martin Houlihan and partnered by the latter’s 19-year-old son Conor, made a victorious debut in the Dungarvan confined hunt maiden four weeks earlier. This event reflected a step up in class, but the result was never in doubt once the patiently-ridden Definite Dilemma eased to the front after two out en-route to disposing of the mare Piece A Cake by a distance.
In the absence of trainer Kiely, his wife Breda reported: “Definite Dilemma is a lovely horse and the plan now is that he will go for a bumper.”
