Former Cheltenham festival winning rider Richard Harding, sent out his first four-year-old maiden winner as a handler when Scene Not Herd came home in front with four lengths to spare, to defeat Mister Sweets in the first division of the Tattersalls Ireland four-year-old maiden under fellow Cork native James Hannon.
“Like them all, if we can sell him, we will. If we don’t, he will go for a bumper. The owner is from Midleton, Ray Fitzgerald. He has a couple with me. He has put plenty of money into it and deserves every success he gets. I’d also like to say thanks to Louis Archdeacon and Eugene O’Sullivan for letting me use their gallops and Caitriona Cronin who owns the yard,” said Harding.
Sporting the colours of champion Breeder Kenneth Parkhill, Bob Olinger was guided to victory by 18-year-old Ben Harvey to score by an impressive 15 lengths ahead of Mount Oscar in the second division of the Tattersalls Ireland four-year-old maiden, getting the Trim-based owner off the mark for the season.
Winning handler Pat Doyle said: “He’s a smashing horse and I thought the world of him all year and we just weren’t having a lot of luck. I didn’t know what was going to happen today. He is homebred of Ken’s (Parkhill) and luckily enough I have a share in him also.”
Handler Sam Curling registered a double on the day with Templebredin providing him with his first success in the Tipperary Cheese Company five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The son of Stowaway, who was previously trained by Andrew Slattery, recorded a widening 12-length victory in the hands of Pa King.
“Andy Slattery had done all the hard work with him, I just got him there. He probably needed a bit of time, but he will go for a winners’ race I’d say. The owners are from Thurles actually, and bought him as a foal. It’s the first horse that they have had with me,” said Curling.
The Dew Valley Foods & Centenary Agri Thurles six-year-old and upwards maiden saw Curling bring up the concluding leg of his two-timer by teaming up with rider Pa King once again to capture this six-runner contest, with last month’s Loughanmore’s runner-up Personal Coach by three quarters of a length over Robin is Ready.
Tipperary-based handler Curling said: “He’s not the easiest as he is a forward going sort of lad. When we get good ground in the spring, we will have a lot of fun with him. He’ll fly around them sharper tracks. I’m delighted for Pa also; he does a lot of work at home and deserves it.”
In-form handler Sean Doyle came out on top in the Local Trainers & Quinlan Transport mares’ winner-of-two courtesy of Shoot to Fame under Harley Dunne to win by four lengths over Damma House winner Ryan’s Cave, when appearing for the fifth time for owner Patrick Curran.
“She needed the run the last day and Sean said that. We were coming here knowing it was a good race, but fancying her quietly. I hope he goes for another winners’ race with her,” said winning rider Dunne.
It proved to be a day to remember for the connections of Champagne Beauty, as the success in the Gain Equine Nutrition & Ballinroe International Horse Transport five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden provided both handler Pat Fitzgerald and rider Mikey Tobin with their first successes of the season.
The grey, who finished third on her final foray at Curraghmore last term, stormed clear to beat Irregularheartbeat by five lengths.
“We’ll probably go for a winner-of-one and she might even turn out next week. She takes racing mighty. I only have her riding out and I could have sold her last week, but I thought it wasn’t worth it,” said Inch-based handler Fitzgerald.
Four-time winning ex-track performer Mad Jack Mytton returned to winning ways when landing the Lorcan O’Riordan Farrier & Members of Golden Vale Hunt open for novice riders in the hands of 19-year-old Peter Kavanagh.
Unsuccessful in his first three starts on the point-to-point fields so far this season, the son of Arcadio got off the mark when battling all the way to the line in a thrilling finish, to get the better of Cappacurry Zak for handler Cormac Doyle.
Winning rider Kavanagh, who was enjoying his first career success said: “That’s only my second ride and first ever winner. A big thanks to Cormac Doyle for putting me up.”
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