Inchydoney | 27th May 2018

Barry O’Neill, who was in action at Portrush the previous afternoon, made it a successful journey to the scenic west Cork coast by landing the Scallys Super Valu, Clonakilty four-year-old maiden aboard Colin Bowe’s newcomer Paxman. The Jeremy-sired Paxman was content to lob along in mid-division until taking closer order on the ascent from four out. He went to the front after the third last and was soon possessing all the aces, three lengths separating him from stable-companion Some Detail. “He’s a lovely horse and he will now go to the sales, “said Bowe of Paxman, a close relation to Irish 1000 Guineas third Storm Dream that’s owned by Diana Duffy from Co Wicklow.

Handler Bowe departed with two winners as Legend Of Zorro sprung a mild surprise with Rob James in the McCarthy Greenbuild Construction five-year-old geldings’ maiden, the race that attracted the biggest field of the afternoon. Legend Of Zorro, owned by the Executors of the late Willie Codd, atoned for pulling up on his return to action at Bartlemy a fortnight earlier by easing to the front after four out. There was only going to be the one outcome from the third last as the winning son of Touch Of Land bounded clear to dispose of Nativegetaway by nine lengths.  “It’s great to train a winner for the executors of the estate of the late Willie Codd. Willie died in February this year and he was a lovely chap that was a good friend of mine, “said Bowe.

The Willie Murphy-trained Marilyn Monroe, a half-sister to JP McManus’ two outstanding mares Regal Encore and The Organist, destroyed the opposition by making all the running in the first division of the Fernhill House Hotel & Gardens five-year-old mares’ maiden. Having fallen when out of contention two out on her debut at Durrow in March, Marilyn Monroe was always travelling well within herself and she forged clear for Pa King from the second last to dismiss You Know The Story by 10 lengths. “She has a great pedigree and she is mare that has just needed time. She will need a summer’s grass and she will be a grand mare for the track, but she would also be for sale if the right person came along, “said owner/trainer Murphy of Marilyn Monroe, in whom John and Phil Browne also hold an interest.

Vermout Fougeray was a desperately unlucky loser of the Springmount Stud & Clonakilty Point to Point six-year-old-and-upwards geldings’ maiden. Vermout Fougeray had made most of the running, although frequently jumping left-handed, and he was clearly travelling best with a three-length advantage when cruelly unseating at the final fence. Bunninadden was then left in front, but the recent Dromahane runner-up Uallrightharry surged past some 50 yards out to score by two lengths in the hands of Declan Queally. Uallrightharry, who was having a fourth career outing, is trained by Margaret Flynn for Valerie Madden.

The Ruaidhri Tierney-trained Sandycove Island paid a handsome compliment to his Oldcastle open lightweight conqueror Drawn N Drank by justifying favouritism in the hands of Eoin O’Brien in the Clona Dairys Winner of One.  The patiently-ridden Sandycove Island, representing his handler’s sister Aine, made his way to the front after four out. Although runner-up Starozov closed as the line approached, there was some two lengths between the pair. Tierney’s father Finbarr, who also bred the winning eight-year-old, reported:”We were waiting for the good ground with him and the ground was terrible when he had his first run of the season in the Tramore hunters chase last month. Last Sunday was the first time that he had his ground and we might run him again at Kinsale next weekend. “

Cloneen Dream, the only horse that owner/trainer Robert Moloney from Bandon has in harness at present, recorded a bloodless success under Derek O’Connor in the second division of the Fernhill House Hotel & Gardens five-year-old mares’ maiden. The 11-year-old Cloneen Dream, a fine third on her penultimate foray at Lismore, always took the eye in running and she coasted to the front before the third last to beat the only other finisher Kilbree Shadow by 15 lengths. “I only bought her about seven weeks ago on the recommendation of James Hannon as my mare Michealamaystar got injured in March, “reported Moloney, who also paid tribute to James Dullea for the use of his facilities.

Eugene O’Sullivan’s Drawn N Drank supplemented his Oldcastle success from the previous Sunday by returning to the coveted number one slot with regular partner Turlough O’Connor in the Clonakilty Blackpudding & Clonakilty Point to Point Open. The 12-year-old Drawn N Drank was always positioned towards the head of affairs and he went for home after securing a fabulous jump four out. He was clearly in command from two out and then stayed on stoutly from before the final fence to account for Ringrone Castle by seven lengths. “This track suited him and it also helped that it rained here in Clonakilty last night, “said handler O’Sullivan of his sister-in-law Irene Walsh’s Drawn N Drank. “He loves ground with plenty of cut in it and he will now be entered in the four-mile open at Kinsale, but he will probably only run if we have a wet week. “