Report | Punchestown 17th February 2019

The Patrick Turley-trained Power of Pause garnered all the plaudits following his impressive debut in the Goffs four-year-old maiden in Punchestown in the hands of Mark O'Hare.

Carrying the colours of the former northern champion’s wife Sara, the son of Doyen travelled well throughout, powering clear in the home straight to emerge six- lengths clear of the Jordan Gainford-ridden Imperial Flem.

The son of Doyen was purchased by Turley at the Land Rover Sale as a store last year for €28,000 the impressive recruit is now set to be offered for sale. “He was great there, his work has been good at home and we really love him. We were confident enough to come for this race as he was doing everything easily enough at home,” said winning rider O’Hare.

The Cavan Developments five-year-old maiden was a race dominated by Wexford riders and handlers as Colin Bowe improved upon his second place in the day’s opener when Rainbow Chaser proved to be too strong for his 16 opponents.

Under the guidance of champion rider Barry O'Neill, the Stowaway gelding made use of his previous experience to clinch a one-and-a-half-length victory over the Donnachadh Doyle-trained The Strap Man, as Jordan Gainford was again forced to settle for second. 

Winning owner Larry Dunne also enjoyed success with Bowe in points last season when Pogue claimed the spoils in the five-and-six-year-old geldings’ maiden at Oldcastle, a horse that was subsequently sold to Donald McCain for €100,000 and has since finished third on his hurdles debut at Bangor in December.

Bowe said: “He has been very unlucky so far. He got pushed out through a wing the first day and then made a bad mistake the last day. Barry (O’Neill) said it was a good solid run and he is probably better than his form would show.”

There was further success for a Wexford combination when the Rob James-ridden Ted claimed victory in the Dublin Products Ltd older geldings’ maiden for handler Liam Kenny.

The son of Canoe who long overdue a success, however he had fortune on his side as he was very fortunate to clinch the victory as Orpen Wells had the race at his mercy when crashing out at the last.

That allowed Ted to record an unlikely success over Dontgetfooledagain by six lengths.

“He has been knocking on the door a long time and has been there of there abouts the whole time. He was very fortunate there so we will go the winner of one route now, but it’s a great day for the horse and Dad who bred him,” said winning owner Lorcan Higgins.

Some Are Lucky had a quick turn around this week when he followed up his Oldtown success with a win in the Mongey Communications open lightweight for novice riders to record his second success in just seven days.

The Sam Curling-trained gelding defeated Pat Doyle's Samanntom by a margin of four-lengths in the hands of Gerry Spain to record his fourth success of the current campaign.

“There’s not much on the cards for him in March so we might sneak an entry into Cheltenham for him. He deserves it, but whether he goes or not remains to be seen, as we might wait for something a bit later in the spring,” said the Tipperary-based winning rider.

Shane Byrne continued his successful season with mares when Thunder Dragon comfortably denied Bannixtown Glory in the Jacqueline McManus Solicitors five-year-old and upwards mares' maiden. 

This was the daughter of Kalanisi's second run in the colours of owner Peter Byrne having finished in eighth place on her debut at Dungarvan in January.

Winning handler Shane Byrne said, “I gave her a spin around Dungarvan for the experience and she blew up coming to the last but it really sharpened her up. She had loads left in the locker today and I think she is a proper mare with a lovely pedigree.”

Peter Maher claimed the Quinns of Baltinglass Farmers Hunt race for the fourth consecutive year, with the Tiernan Roche-ridden Change Your Story coming out on top in the 2019 renewal.

After pulling up in his only previous start this season at Tattersalls Farm in December, the Dubai Destination gelding denied the John Carr-trained Cagliostro by a distance of two-and-a-half lengths.

The favourite Enniskillen who had won the past three renewals was forced to settle for third. Winning handler Peter Maher said: “This horse had a touch of a leg so we gave him a year off. He ran the last day but our horses just weren’t right. He did it well there though and he will now go for the Tetretema.”