Report | Tyrella 2nd March 2019

It was a red letter day for John McNally who saddled his first winner as a handler in the concluding older maiden for novice riders when Nabraska ran out a ready winner.

The son of Curtain Time was getting off the mark at the second time of asking, having shaped with plenty of promise at the same track on his debut back in January.

Ridden by Neil Gault who was partnering his first winner of the season, the six-year-old made all the running before battling on gamely to see-off Shadow Recruit by a length.

The Armagh owner/handler said: “He improved from his run the last day and we were confident coming here today.  I bought him as a three-year-old, but he has had a few niggly problems. I think he is a lovely horse and he could go to the track now.”

The Barry O’Neill and David Christie combination enjoyed a double on the afternoon, which was initiated by Cream Sparkles who took the Armstrong Auctions five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.

Sporting the colours of Michael O’Connor, the daughter of Scorpion was certainly not winning out of turn here having being placed on her last two starts.

The five-year-old was given a positive ride, before finding plenty for pressure to see-off the attentions of Wexford raider Frank And Honest by four lengths.

“She is a smashing mare and could go well in a bumper.  We went to Armagh last time, but the ground was like glue and it didn’t suit her.  She moves very well and enjoyed the better conditions today.  We will either head to the sales or the track with her now,” said the Fermanagh handler.

Kadmer brought up the double for Barry O’Neill and David Christie when taking the Anonymous Generous Supporter winner of three.

Successful around Portrush back in the autumn, the 10-year-old recorded a facile 15-length success here, bringing his career tally to four.

The result never looked in any doubt from the penultimate fence, with course specialist Lisnagreggan coming home a well beaten second behind the easy winner.

The Ray Nicholas-owned son of Kadeed is likely to go for a hunter chase now as the successful handler said:  “He never came out of second gear really.  He was a different class there.  I didn’t jump a fence with him since Limerick and I was a bit concerned in the last circuit, as he was out on his own but he jumped well.”

The opening Dennison Commercials four-year-old maiden resulted in a dramatic finish, following two independent fallers at the final fence. 

The Jamie Codd–ridden Waitonit was desperately unlucky, coming to grief when holding the advantage at the last, while Brother Byrne looked booked for second when falling at this point under Harley Dunne.

The eventual runner-up, Noel’s Boy, was handed the advantage at this point, but it was the Jerry Cosgrave-trained Steal The Thunder who came through to take victory on the run to the line.

Having his second start, the son of Mount Nelson came home well to win by six length in the end.

Owner Michael McKeown said: “We offered him for sale last year, but we took him home and thought we would try our hand in a point-to-point.  I think he will improve again from that as he was showing us plenty at home.  He will be offered for sale now.”

Patrick Turley has his string in fine form of late and the Downpatrick handler took the Stephen Magee & William McDowell adjacent hunt winner race with Little Battler, who appreciated the step down in grade to win on his fourth attempt.

Carrying the colours of Mary Kelly, the five-year-old made much of the running under Declan Lavery before easing clear to record an eight-length success over Canitbe.

The son of Arakan was completing a good day for his sire, who was also responsible for siring the runner-up in the four-year-old maiden.

“He jumped away well in front.  It wasn’t a great race but you can only beat what is in front of you.  We think he’s a good horse and were confident coming here today.  But in fairness if he didn’t win today, he could struggle to win a race,” said the winning rider.

Ya Boy Ya made his second start a winning one when taking the Albert Bartlett five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden under James Kenny, who was partnering his third winner of the season.

Trained by the rider’s father Liam Kenny, the son of Sans Frontieres stepped up from his fourth placed effort at Ballinaboola back in the qutumn to take this contest by a comfortable four lengths, with Normofthenorth coming home in second.

Owned by the Orphan Girl Syndicate, the five-year-old is a €19,000 Derby Sale graduate and is likely to head back to the sales now.

“He ran a great race in Ballinaboola in November.  We took our time with him after that and he was showing us plenty coming here today.  He travelled well and jumped well for James,” said the Wexford handler.