Report | Stowlin 29th Apr 18

The Goffs UK Spring Sale & The Bleahen Family four-year-old geldings maiden attracted the largest entry of the day with 45 possible runners where 14 went to post.

The Cormac Doyle-trained Monkfish appeared to enjoy the better ground conditions and made steady headway over the final half a mile before being left in front after the third last fence where he showed a nice turn of foot over the final two fences and held off the challenge of Gameface by half a length in the hands of Paul Cawley. Owned by the familiar Monbeg Syndicate, Monkfish was bought for £36,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby sale and is out of a daughter of the high class nine-time winner Martomick.

“He is a big horse who needed time. He got a small break after his run in February and will head to one of the sales now. I have eight left to run this season,” reported winning handler.

The ill-fated sire Fame And Glory has had a remarkable season with his crop of four-year-old runners which continued in the Tattersalls Ireland & The Bleahen Family maiden race for four-year-old mares’ when Glorious Lady came out on top of a photo finish for the Gavin Cromwell yard.

Ridden by Antony Fox in mid-division for much of the race before progressing to join the leaders at the penultimate fence, Glorious Lady kept on well to lead on the run-in to see off the challenge of the Aidan Fitzgerald-trained Niccolai. Owned by Danestown Racing Partnership, Glorious Lady is from a family of winners which includes the former 10-time Graded winner Mansony.

Her delighted handler commented; “She is a lovely mare and has a nice turn of foot. She raced a small bit keen today but was professional. She will probably go the sales now.”

The Paurick O’Connor-trained Buster Valentine supplied his brother Derek with the opening leg of a double on the day in the Goffs UK Spring Sale five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The son of Ask made all in the hands of Derek O’Connor and when joined at the penultimate fence by Oscar Academy, Buster Valentine found plenty under pressure on the run-in to score by a length in the colours of Tom Howley who also bred the gelding and who was on hand to welcome back his winner and commented; “He is a nice horse. He needed time to mature so we decided to wait until now to run him. I have a half-brother to him by Yeats going to the Derby sale and I also have a full-sister at home. He is now for sale.”

Carrigmoorna Wood supplied Derek O’Connor with the second leg of his double as the daughter of Shantou returned home the three length winner of the Connolly’s Red Mills maiden race for five-year-old-upwards mares’. Runner-up on her debut at Cragmore in February, the daughter of Robert Tyner was then fifth in the mares’ point-to-point bumper at Cork on Easter Monday.

The five-year-old, who is owned by the Old Fools partnership, was on the heels of the leaders over the final half a mile and progressed to lead before the final fence where she stayed on well on the run-in over the newcomer Seoidin.

“She did it nicely today. She was in season the last day so we had to wait for to be ready to run. She may go for the mares’ point-to-point bumper at Tipperary next month,” reported her Kinsale-based handler. 

Crimson Chief enjoyed a comfortable debut success in the Al Hayes Motors Ltd maiden race for six-year-old-and-upwards in the hands of the in-form James Hannon who was registering his 13th win of the season. The son of Arcadio, who is a half-brother to two track winners and who was bred, owned and trained by John Morrison, was close to the leaders throughout and progressed to lead from the penultimate fence where he quickly asserted clear of his rivals to win by six lengths at the finish over Getaway Home.

“He is a lovely horse that has just needed that bit extra time and is an exciting sort. He may go for the point-to-point bumper at Tipperary next, reported Olly Power who was representing the winning handler.

A Decent Excuse returned to winning ways for the O’Sullivan team when he took the Goffs Property open lightweight race for lady riders. The 11-year-old won three opens during the Autumn before running below par on his next three starts. The Eugene O’Sullivan-trained gelding was partnered by his daughter Maxine and made it a pillar-to-post victory where he quickened well turning into the straight and held off the strong challenge of the Liz Lalor-ridden Longhouse Music by three quarters of a length.

“He loves this ground. He got a small setback after Fairyhouse but did it well today. He will stay pointing for the rest of the season and may go for a hunter chase if the ground stays this way,” commented his Cork-based handler.