Report | Necarne 11th May 19

Colin Bowe and Barry O’Neill combined to record a treble on the afternoon, with Battle Of Actium getting the Wexford duo off the mark in the opening Dennison Commercials four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The Gigginstown House Stud–owned gelding was getting off the mark at the fourth time of asking, following two placed efforts at Turtulla and most recently in Taylorstown.
Always up with the pace, the son of Fame And Glory displayed a game attitude to get the better off Gondor by just a short head following a thrilling finish.

After the success of the €65,000 Derby Sale graduate Colin Bowe said: “He is a lovely horse who has gained plenty of experience and is learning all the time.  He has improved with each run and could head to the track now.”

Rivers End provided the Colin Bowe/Barry O’Neill combination with their second winner of the day when making a winning debut for the yard in the SpanWright six-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The Milestone Racing Partnership–owned gelding was making a return to action here following a break, having departed at the first at Borris House in December when last seeing competitive action.
A second winner of the season for his sire Watar, the successful chestnut was bred by John Bailey who would be well known in the Wexford region for his schooling ground at Ballyedmond.  

Having been given a patient ride, the gelding made relentless progress inside the final mile before quickening away to account for Danjaman by six lengths.

“This is his first run for me and we found a good opportunity for him.  He handled the track well and the race was ran to suit.  He will run in a winner’s race next,” said the Kiltealy handler.

Successful at this meeting 12 months ago when recording her maiden success, Cushinstown Finest made it two from two at the track when taking the RTD Crawford Ltd mares’ winner-of-three contest, bringing up the treble for Colin Bowe and Barry O’Neill.

Having pulled up at Oldcastle on her sole start since that maiden success, the daughter of Trans Island bounced right back to form when recording a comprehensive eight-length success.

Having been given a patient ride, the Milestone Racing Partnership–owned mare quickened away smartly in the closing stages to see-off the runner–up Clondaw Nell in good style.

“She clearly likes the track and enjoyed the ease in the ground.  She could go for another mares’ winners contest,” said Bowe.

David Christie has enjoyed great success in the Richard Trimble adjacent hunt race over the years and the Fermanagh handler saddled the first two home in this year’s addition.
Sporting the colours of Jennifer O’Kane, Blue Markie made it 11th time lucky when overhauling his stable mate Pyrios to win by a length.

Ridden by Rob James, the son of Le Fou came to challenge at the final fence before staying on gamely to get up in the dying strides under a hands and heels ride.

“He had some nice runs earlier in his career and the small field helped him today. We had him entered in the sales at Doncaster but he could run in a winners’ race next,” said the handler of the successful five-year-old. 

Former champion pointer Anseanachai Cliste enjoyed his first success in over two years when taking the Erne Insurance open for owner/handler and rider Daire McConville.

Last successful in the Ulster National back in March 2017, the now 11-year-old was however not winning out of turn having finished a close second to Kruzhlinin on his last start at Taylorstown.

The son of Bach hit the front at the penultimate obstacle here, before staying on gamely to beat Sizing Solution by six lengths, recording his 15th career success in the process.

“I’m delighted with that. He could run again in another open before the end of the season as long as the ground stays like that,” said McConville.

The concluding Killyhevlin Hotel older geldings’ maiden saw Carlow handler Willie Murphy continue his fantastic run of form when saddling his 10th winner of the season.

Stephen Connor did the steering aboard the successful Cloudybackwest, who was getting off the mark at the second attempt between the flags, following a spell under rules.

Owned by the Blue Diamond Syndicate, the seven-year-old was left clear by the departure of Drumlee Castle at the penultimate obstacle, before sticking gamely to his task in the home straight to see-off Benbulben Blue by two-and-a-half lengths.

Moira McElligott, wife of the absent handler said: “He has loads of ability, but his jumping has been an issue, thankfully that has improved. 

“My brother Eamon McElligott part owns him so I’m delighted that he won. He could head to the sales or go for a winners’ race now.”