Report | Ballindenisk 01st December 2019

The John Nallen-trained Minella Majestic, one of the definite paddock-picks beforehand, made a winning debut in the hands of Johnny Barry in the first division of the Chanceit.ie four-year-old Maiden.

The son of Shantou, a half-brother to Noel Meade's Grade 3 novice hurdle winner Corbally Ghost that was acquired for €32,000 by hotelier Nallen as a foal rallied well in the closing stages to beat runner-up Noble Yeats by a neck on the line.

"He was bought as a foal and he wants soft ground, that's why we didn't run him in the spring. We've always thought a lot of him, and he will now go to the sales," said Nallen.

Handler Eugene O'Sullivan sent out well-touted newcomer Coqolino, partnered by his daughter Maxine O'Sullivan, to record a taking success in the second division of the Chanceit.ie four-year-old Maiden.

The winning French-bred stormed clear on the ascent from the second last to win in a common canter by 12 lengths from Smurphy Enki in the colours of the elder O'Sullivan's long-standing patron Tomas Singleton from Bweeng.

"This is a very exciting horse and he's on a par with the best that I have ever had. I would love to keep him, but he will be going to a sale at some stage, "said handler O'Sullivan.

Handler Aengus King fares well with his small string and the Newmarket-On-Fergus-based operator was on the mark with the Eoin Mahon-ridden newcomer Fill The Tank in the Johnny’s Foodstore and Restaurant, Watergrasshill five year-old and upwards geldings maiden.

The son of Gold Well, made nice progress from two out and he assumed command after the second last to beat the vastly more-experienced The New Kid by two and a half lengths. Fill The Tank is a half-brother to John Kiely's three-time hurdles winner Brave Out.

The Gerry Kelleher-trained Macs Legend hinted that another productive campaign lies in wait by going one better than he did on his return to action behind Mighty Stowaway at Kinsale in early-November, by coming home four lengths in front of Ucello Conti in the  to provide 20-year old Walshtown native James Murphy with a third career success.

Nine-horse handler Kelleher said: "We feel that some of these galloping courses in points suit him better and he will probably stick to points this season. He could even come back to Ballindenisk here for the Lisgoold meeting early in the new year. "

Johnny Hurley was the only rider to partner two winners and the locally based Conna native instigated his two-timer aboard the Seamus Spillane-trained mare Irregularheartbeat in the Noel Loftus Flooring Ltd five-year-old and upwards adjacent maiden.

The daughter of Stowaway, who finished second on her debut at Turtulla two weeks earlier, made a terrific jump two that proved crucial as she stayed on resolutely in the closing stages to contain ex-British track performer Grange Ranger by one and a half lengths.

Handler Seamus Spillane's son Dinny said: "She was entitled to win as she had a cracking run at Turtulla and the plan was to make the running. She will probably now go to the track. "

Hurley wasted little time in doubling up as he then combined with Coolagown-based handler Liam O'Brien to collect the Buckleys Bar, Whitechurch, Diarmuid and Kathleen Hickey five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden with No Memory.

Absent finishing a respectable seventh on her only previous outing at Kinsale in June 2018, No Memory was another to benefit from frontrunning tactics and she valiantly asserted from the last to see off Rachel's Surprise by two and a half lengths in the silks of O'Brien's sister Mary.

Shuil Luas vindicated the promise of two commendable placed efforts at Tinahely and Kinsale earlier this autumn by coming home as she pleased under her handler Tom Keating's partner Liz Lalor in the Gallaghers Gastro Pub, McCurtain Street, Cork mares’ winner-of-two, the pair being the only finishers from the five runners that set out.

"She will stick to points and we will try and find another tough track for her. She may even come back here to Ballindenisk for the Lisgoold meeting in the new year,” said winning handler Tom Keating.