Report | Inch 31st Mar 18

Aidan Fitzgerald and Richie Deegan are experiencing a quite productive campaign and the pair combined to win the Tattersalls Ireland & Mag & Noel Long, Hickeys Bar, Mount Uniacke four-year-old mares’ maiden with newcomer Deja Vue. On an excellent afternoon for frontrunners, the Fame And Glory-sired Deja Vue led from after the second fence and she then jumped soundly at the head of affairs to beat Etincelle Lioterie by four lengths.

“We bought this filly at the Derby sale and we’ve always loved her at home, “said Fitzgerald of his wife Ashling Daly’s Deja Vue that’s a half-sister to four-time track winner Jetstream Jack. “I’ve always wanted to win this race, we made the decision to keep her for Inch and she will now go to some of the sales. “

Owner/trainer Jim Barry’s Conformist stepped up from her excellent second-placed debut effort behind Destinys Choice at Lismore last month by making all the running in the hands of Liz Lalor in the Connollys Red Mills & Aherns Centra six-year-old-and-upwards mares’ maiden.

The six-year-old Conformist, who trace back to Cyfor Malta, jumped soundly and she had her toiling rivals in trouble from three out as she valiantly maintained the tempo to account for DJ Sasha by 12 lengths.

Fethard-based Barry, who also sent out the subsequently ill-fated Defacto Lady to win at Lisronagh in October, indicated that he may now prepare Conformist for a tilt at a hunters chase.

Joe Ryan, who started off Warren Greatrex’s recent Kim Muir Chase winner Missed Approach in points four years ago, seems to have another nice prospect on his hands in the form of newcomer Prince Kayf who took the Goffs UK, Aintree Sale four-year-old geldings’ maiden. The Kayf Tara-sired Prince Kayf, owned by Ryan’s son Josh, was another to benefit from pacesetting duties as he disputed the running until setting sail for home under James Hannon with four fences remaining.
Favourite Kiltealy Briggs moved through to challenge the winning son of Kayf Tara from three out. There was then very little to separate the pair and, although Kiltealy Briggs was marginally faster in the air over the final fence, Prince Kayf got on top 50 yards out to score by a neck in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.

“He is a tough, honest horse that stays well and he will probably go to some of the sales now, “commented Co Clare-based handler Ryan of Prince Kayf, an early-June foal that’s out of a black-type winning racemare in Annie’s Answer (by Flemensfirth)

Former southern regional champion Damian Murphy saddled an initial winner of the season when Big Man Clarence made light of a 13-month absence to record an authoritative success in the hands of Joanna Walton in the East Cork Oil six-year-old-upwards geldings’ maiden. Big Man Clarence, who was under the care of Enda Bolger when finishing second to Babytaggle at Bandon last term, was always well positioned and he took the measure of Arch Melody on the run to the final fence to score by four lengths.

“We bought him at the end of last season and Liz Lalor had him in pre-training until a few months ago. We will try and find a winners race for him now, “reported Murphy of his fiancée Jane Foley’s Good Man Clarence.

Owner/trainer John Nallen sent out his third winner of the month, following the recent successes of Minella Beat and Minella Indo, when Minella Bobo obliged at the first time of asking in the Hurleys SuperValu, Midleton five-year-old geldings’ maiden. The grey-coloured Minella Bobo, a half-brother to Neil Mulholland’s dual hurdles winner Minellatillmorning that also carried Nallen’s colours in Irish points last season, always travelled well and he moved through to join issue before two out. The winning son of Oscar stylishly got the better of Liosduin Bhearna on the flat to oblige by two lengths with a two and half break back to the Lingstown runner-up The Tangler Barry in third spot.

“I bought this fellow as a foal and he has always shown a fair bit at home. Inch has been a lucky track for us, we had two winners here last year, and he will probably now go to the sales, “disclosed Clonmel hotelier Nallen, also paying tribute to ‘Corky’ Carroll who works alongside him preparing his team of pointers.

Pat Collins attained a most meritorious milestone by partnering his 100th points winner aboard local Killeagh-based handler Joe Hennessy’s The Alchemyst on what was his only mount of the day in the T & M Fitzgerald & Kelkab five-year-old-upwards adjacent maiden.

The Alchemyst, who pulled up on his previous two outings, made virtually all the running. The winning seven-year-old was clearly containing Glorious Boru, who fell when three lengths in arrears at the final fence, and the demise of Michael Sweeney’s mount then enabled the mare Tourard Ways to finish second some 10 lengths adrift.

“The better ground today was a help to him and he will hopefully go on for a winners race now, “said two horse handler Hennessy’s son Richard, who owns the gelding with his girlfriend Stephanie Shine.