Barry O’Neill continued his fine start to the season riding a treble around the new track at Damma House.
Lisronagh Stone got the Wexford rider off the mark in the Goffs five-and-six year old geldings’ maiden. Having his sixth start, this was a deserved success for the consistent sort, having been placed on two previous occasions.
Always to the fore of proceedings, the Arcadio gelding hit the front three-out following the departure of Vital Sign.
Owned and trained by Tipperary-vet John Halley, the five-year-old stayed on well in the home straight to see off the strong challenge from Really Radicle by a length and-a quarter.
“Barry gave him a great ride and we were delighted with him, hopefully we will sell him now,” said the handlers” son Josh Halley.
Shawshank enhanced his credentials in the Eoin Doyle winner of two, following up on his recent maiden success at Castletown on the opening day of the season and also providing Barry O’Neill with the second leg of his treble.
The five-year-old has now won two of his three starts and looks an exciting prospect for the future.
A good looking son of Presenting, Paul Nolan’s charge cut out the running from halfway and jumped notably well.
Left clear when Fullasthesea departed at the penultimate fence, the bay gelding quickened up smartly to win by 15 lengths from Sandycove Island.
Owned by C.R.B. Bloodstock Limited, the winner will now head to the sales and the handler said: “I think he is very good, he has a lovely attitude and is just learning about the game.”
The final contest of the day also went the way of Barry O’Neill, as he steered Kiera Royal to a five-length victory in the Mallwood Ltd six-year-old and upwards maiden.
Having her 26th start, the daughter of Beneficial was making smooth progress when left in front by the departure of My Forever Friend two-out.
The chestnut mare stuck to her task well, seeing off Glorious Diva, who came home five lengths back in second.
This was a poignant success as the winner was carrying the colours of Shelagh Burke who sadly passed away couple of weeks previously. Her son Edward indicated that the winner may either go for a winners or possibly go back to the track.
It was a day to remember for 19-year-old Michael Sweeney who partnered his second career success in the Ballylinch Stud open for novice riders.
His mount Cloudy Morning was taking the sixth contest if his career here and was positioned in mid division for much of the contest, the ten-year-old hit the front on the run to the second last, before staying on well to come home six lengths in front of the staying-on Eddies Miracle.
The winner carried the colours of Michael O’Donovan and is trained by Declan Queally, whose father said: “We will try and pick up another similar type of contest with him.”
Highgate Hill took the opening Tattersalls Ireland four-year-old maiden for handler Denis Murphy and rider Simon Cavanagh.
Cutting out the running from flag fall, the good-looking son of Presenting was pestered by a loose horse for much of the contest.
On what was his fourth start, the €40,000 Derby sale graduate stayed on gamely up the hill to carry Alan Harte’s colours to a five-length success over Eaglehill.
“He was a bit unlucky to miss the second-last at Portrush the last day, but made up for it here. I think he will win lots of races,” said the winning Wexford handler.
Rob James continued his good run of form this season when steering home Remember Jack in the Gain five and six-year-old mares” maiden.
Trained and owned by David Ryan who is based in Galway, the daughter of Gamut had shown glimpses of promise previously.
The Wexford rider was content to track the leaders, before sweeping through three-out to take up the advantage.
To her credit the five-year-old battled gamely up the hill to hold off Beliou Le Fume by a head.
Ryan said: “We will probably go for a winners’ race before letting her off for the winter as she wants good ground.”
