Kilworth & Araglen (H) at Ballyarthur on Sunday 11th March.
Donnchadh Doyle, who sent out no less than seven winners over three meetings on Sunday, saddled four winners at this fixture with Rob James partnering the quartet to victory.
Jillythejet initiated the pair’s four-timer by recording a visually-impressive front running success in the Goffs UK four-year-old mares’ maiden. The white-faced Jillythejet jumped superbly at the head of affairs and she could be called the most likely winner once closest pursuer Another Annie had to be rousted along after three out. Whilst Another Annie came back to hold every chance before two out, one sensed that Jillythejet was always travelling marginally stronger and the Monbeg Syndicate-owned black duly obliged by two lengths. ”She’s a very classy filly, the ground would have been too heavy for her today. She came out of the August sale last year and she will now go to some of the sales, maybe the one at Aintree next month, “said Doyle of the half-sister to six-time winner Laganbank.
Brewers Project brought up the second-leg of the Doyle/James four-timer by making a winning debut in the Dairygold, Gain Feeds and Denis Condon four-year-old geldings maiden. Brewers Project, the definite pick of the paddock beforehand, disputed the running with Umbrigado until the latter edged on with a circuit still left to travel. The winning son of Aizavoski, a €38, 000 graduate of last year’s Derby sale that trace back to O’Muircheartaigh, hit the front before the second last. Having thrown a fabulous leap at this penultimate obstacle, the triumphant bay was soon possessing all the aces as he accounted for the only other finisher Umbrigado by five lengths. “I always thought that he was very special and he has been working on a par with Feel My Pulse, who I won the four-year-old maiden with at Lismore yesterday, and he will probably now go to the Cheltenham sale this Thursday, “reported Doyle of the Monbeg Syndicate-owned Brewers Project.
Sheila Tansit, who unseated at the second fence in Borris House two days earlier, proved to be the Co Wexford-based pair’s third winner of the afternoon in the Foley Timber five-year-old-and-upwards mares’ maiden. Different tactics were employed here as the daughter of Court Cave was restrained at the rear of the four-runner field until edging closer from three out. She was the faster in the air two out and she then went to the front after this second last fence. With runner-up Devito’sredrobin erring at the final fence, Sheila Tansit held on grimly in the closing stages to oblige by a neck in what was the closest finish of the afternoon. “She’s a nice mare and we thought that she would win in Borris on Friday, “confessed Doyle of Sheila Tansit, owned by Don and Stacey Stafford from Enniscorthy. “She would ideally want nicer ground and that’s why we sat in behind with her today. “
20-year-old Jody Townend, younger sister of former champion jockey Paul, partnered her second winner of the season and her third in total by guiding the Garrett Ahern-trained Whoyakodding to a comprehensive success in the Aherns Bar, The Butchers Bar & Cotters Bar six-year-old-upwards geldings’ maiden. Ex-hurdler Whoyakodding was always travelling marginally better than his solitary opponent Major Milan from two out, four lengths ultimately separating the pair. Ahern remarked of the Marie Gubbins-owned Whoyakodding:”I would like to say a special thanks to physio Caroline O’Brien, who has done a lot of work on this horse. It’s great that he has won and the plan now is that he will go to Cork on Easter Monday for the maiden hunters chase. “
Doyle brought up his initial career four-timer when Ballybreen received an excellent ride from James to claim victory in Jimmy Linehan Transport, The Swallow Inn & McCarthy Insurance five-year-old geldings’ maiden. The Dungarvan debut fourth Ballybreen was a couple of lengths off the leader Clonguile Way from five out, but a succession of fast jumps moved him ever closer. He took up the running two out and, although runner-up Occupied closed approaching the last, the winning son of Gold Well responded to pressure to edge out Eoghain O’Grady’s charge by two lengths in the familiar Monbeg Syndicate silks.
The Village Inn Bar five-year-old-upwards adjacent maiden for novice riders was eventful to put it mildly as no less than three horses refused at the final fence. The drama started when Artic Fever tired in front with Shane Baragry on the approach to the fence when holding an eight-length advantage and he refused. Two Sams, who was tiring noticeably from two out, was then left in front except that he too stopped. The ‘Trixie’ Barry-trained Two Sams then negotiated the obstacle at the second attempt to finish alone in the hands of Gary Noonan. The Conor Houlihan-ridden Make Me Merry, who was initially pulled up before two out, similarly refused shortly after Two Sams got over the fence. The stewards quickly called an enquiry and they found Messrs’ Noonan, Baragry and Houlihan guilty of inappropriate use of the whip. The trio were banned for five days and fined €300 each.
