As competition within the open division begins to intensify, Coastal Tiep added to his burgeoning reputation by claiming the JA Electrical Services open, to supplement his victory at Loughanmore a fortnight earlier.
Open’s at the Co. Down course typically tend to throw up a smart sort, with the likes of Marito and Morning Assembly having won at the track in recent times, and the six-year-old’s owners, the Jetmac Syndicate, will have high hopes for the French-bred, as he came through a tough test, defeating last year’s winner and reigning Stratford Foxhunters victor, Chosen Dream, by four lengths in the hands of Ben Crawford.
“We are still learning about this horse and I think he only does what he needs to do. He will probably run at the Down Royal hunter chase at Christmas and we will stick to the hunter chase route with him,” said handler Stuart Crawford.
Norman Geraghty’s Larry Looby proved himself to be a tough customer, as he dug deep to claim the Strangford Arms Hotel five-year-old geldings’ maiden, the race won in 2014 by last season’s Irish National winner General Principle.
Failing to fire when last seeing competitive action at Oldcastle in the spring, the own-brother to Tom Keating’s Ballysteen point winner Timber House, began to get the better of a much-improved Destination Dylan from the final fence to prevail by three quarters of a length for Jamie Codd.
“He was unlucky not to win the first day he run as the saddle slipped at Castletown and then he wasn’t beaten far at Largy. He is a lovely horse and if not sold he will go for a winners’ race,” said the winning handler.
A day after celebrating his 37th birthday, Codd completed a double when teaming up with Jim Dreaper to land the concluding older geldings’ maiden with Too Wise Man.
Continuing the good-run of success for the progeny of Bridge Stud stallion Dansant, the six-year-old newcomer, who is a full-brother to £110,000 seller Danse Idol, always travelled best of all, before comfortably accounting for the now four-times placed Okey Dokey by five lengths.
“He is a lovely horse that his owner Leon Tormey bought down in Cork last year. He jumped well and did everything right. He is owned by selling people and is sales bound now,” said Tom Dreaper, son of the winning Killsallaghan-based handler.
Donnchadh Doyle picked up yet another four-year-old maiden in the northern region this season, when Allbarone matched the achievement of his dam, Tippeenan Lass, a debut four-year-old maiden winner at Kilmuckridge 14 year’s earlier, bytaking division two of the Dennison Commercials-sponsored four-year-old maiden.
A €24,000 purchase from the 2017 Land Rover sale, the September Storm gelding headed Richard Black’s First Earl to win by four lengths in the hands or Rob James.
The Joseph Johnston-bred winner will now be offered at next month’s Tattersalls Cheltenham December sale.
The opening division of the Dennison Commericals four-year-old maiden went the way of the sponsor Wilson Dennison’s Eaglehill.
Bringing a great deal of experience to what was his sixth career outing, the French-bred has progressed with each run this campaign, and following a promising second behind Highate Hill at Damma House, a horse that was subsequently bought by Olly Murphy for £50,000, the grey son of Blue Bresil comfortably got the better of Patrick Turley’s Tareeshar by eight lengths.
“There was something wrong with him in the spring and he has come back well, improving with each run. The last day he was second (at Damma House) he seemed to be staying on so we made more use of him today. He will head to the sales now and should make into a nice staying chaser,” said handler Colin McKeever of his third winner of the season.
There was further success on the card for the McKeever family when Colin’s son Graham McKeever sent out Brophies Doll to get off the mark in the BRG Autohub five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.
Carrying the colours of former point-to-point rider James Jenkins, who had trained her to run in two points last spring, the six-year-old daughter of Gamut, joined McKeever’s team ahead of the autumn campaign and improved upon her second behind Angelic Moon at Loughanmore a fortnight ago, to run out a six-length winner over Largy Princess in the hands of reigning champion under-21 rider Shane Fitzgerald.
The Echo Boy was the third horse that had run at Loughanmore earlier in the month to enjoy success at Kirkistown, when he got the better of a titanic battle with recent Lisronagh scorer Sidetracked in the Wilsons Auctions winner of one.
The Dermot McLoughlin-trained five-year-old has appeared to have improved significantly for the switch to McLoughlin’s Co. Meath yard, as he added to that 10-length success at Loughanmore a fortnight ago, by provide winning rider Lar O’Carroll with his third winner of the season following the two-length success.
“My only concern was that it might be too soon since his win at Loughanmore, but Lar (O’Carroll) said it he felt great and he loved it out in front pinging each fence. He’s a lovely horse and seems to be improving,” said McLoughlin.
