Declan Queally enjoyed a day to remember at Kilfeacle when not only training a double but also steering home three winners on the afternoon.
The Waterford native got off the mark in the saddle aboard the Kieran Purcell owned and trained Solo Cargo in the opening Tattersalls Ireland five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The son of Salutino was never too far away from the pace and had to battle hard in the closing stages to collar the tiring Ain’t That A Shame late on, with only a short head separating the pair at the line.
“This horse had a lovely run the last day in Mainstown. He’s a good, honest horse that will most likely be moved on now,” said the Kilkenny handler.
Fenno’s Storm caused a major upset in the Hinchys Garage Open, when getting the better of odds-on favourite Stand Up And Fight.
Ridden and trained by Declan Queally, the eight-year-old was always to the fore of proceedings and put his stamina to good use when recording a four-length success, with the runner up Stand Up And Fight appearing to tire somewhat in the closing stages.
The now eight-time winner is owned by Maurice Walsh and connections eluded that the Tetratema Hunter Chase at Gowran Park would be his next objective before aiming for the Joseph O’Reilly around Fairyhouse.
Declan Queally brought up the treble in the saddle and trained his second winner of the afternoon when Springfield Fox took the Kirbys Pharmacy winner of three.
Owned by Ludlow-based John Needham, the son of Sagamix picked up the running four-out and the result never looked in doubt from here.
The grey stuck to his task gamely to see-off recent Templenacarriga winner Shuil Luas by 14 lengths. The five-year-old is now three-from-three between-the-flags and the winning handler said: “We think he’s a fair horse and he showed that there today. He didn’t have too hard a race, so we may now look at the winners of three at Ballinaboola next weekend.”
While only three runners faced the starter in the Sam Russell Bloodstock five-year-old and upwards confined maiden, this is easily understandable as unfortunately there are only eight horses with a Scarteen hunter cert registered this season.
The Michael Hennessey-owned Byerley Beag provided Roger Quinlan with his eighth winner of the season when recording a somewhat cosy success over Verticalpebble with length and a half separating the pair.
“This horse had some good form in maiden hurdles. He got injured and we had to give him time. Today was his day and we’re thrilled,” said handler Sean Hennessy.
The GAIN Equine Nutrition five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden saw John Ryan send out his second point-to-point winner of the season when Dualla Time made a winning debut.
Ridden by Shane Fitzgerald, the daughter of Cloudings bounced out and made the running, before battling on gamely in the home straight of see-off Forthegreatergood by a length and a half.
“This is a very nice mare that has a lovely future on the track in time. She will either go for a mares’ winners race or for a maiden hunter chase next,” said the Templemore handler, of the Michael Moloney owned six-year-old.
Carrigmoorna Pine ran out a very convincing winner of the concluding Pegus Horse Feed older geldings’ maiden in the hands of Derek O’Connor.
Having posted a couple of fine efforts in defeat last spring, the son of Oscar was given a patient ride before travelling very smoothly into the contest.
Sporting the colours of the Old Fools Partnership the six-year-old eased clear in the closing stages to come home three lengths in front of the runner up, Vinnies Nephue.
Winning handler Robert Tyner was on hand to say: “This is a horse we’ve always liked a lot. He will probably go for the point-to-point bumper at Gowran now.”
