Report | Knockinroe 12th Nov 17

Suirvale (H) at Knockinroe on Sunday 26th November.

The Suirvale Harriers held their first meeting since April 2015 at their new track at Knockinroe just outside Templemore and Templepatrick-based Warren Ewing made the long trip down a worthwhile one when Hawthorn Cottage took the Barnane Stud Ltd four-year-old mares’ maiden on her fifth start between the flags. Ridden by Mark O’Hare, the daughter of Gold Well who was purchased as a foal by Kevin Ross Bloodstock at the Goffs February 2014 sale for €1,500, led before the second last fence where she quickly gained an advantage of her runner-up Express Time to win by seven lengths. Accompanied by his son Sam who won this year’s Dingle Derby, Ewing indicated that his winner who has been placed on her last three starts and who is also from the family of ten-time winner Morceli, would be now sales bound.

The Young Oil Ltd, Templemore & Kenneally Family, Ballyheen five-year-old mares’ maiden saw a local success when the Denis Ryan-owned Kilnesare Kate lost her maiden tag having previously been placed on three occasions. Providing the second part of a double for Barry O’Neill, the daughter of Mahler who was a first winner for her dam, led from the fifth fence and produced a game display in the testing conditions to win by six lengths over Brave Stowaway. Locally trained by Leslie Young who reported after the race “We were a bit worried about the ground today but she got through it. She deserved that victory after some good runs and we will most likely go to the track with her now”.

On the same day that Samcro blew away his rivals in the Grade 3 Monksfield hurdle at Navan, his former point-to-point handler, Colin Bowe produced another eye-catching four-year-old winner with Blackjack Kentucky in the Thomas Murphy & Son Machinery Ltd four-year-old geldings’ maiden. Producing the fastest time of the day, the Barry O’Neill ridden son of Oscar progressed to lead before the penultimate fence and ran out the three length winner over Thomas MacDonagh in second. Owned by Milestone Racing Partnership, Blackjack Kentucky who was sixth at Quakerstown in April, is a half-brother to Thyne For Gold and Champagne Present and is also sales bound following his win.

Eddie Keating enjoyed his first winner of the season when Voyage De Retour scored for the Daryl Deacon yard in the Burkes Filling Station Templemore & JH Roche & Sons five-year-old geldings’ maiden. The son of Craigsteel who was carrying the colours of William Deacon, had two runs last spring and made good progress from the third last fence where he took up the lead before the final fence and soon went clear to win by five lengths over Commanding Spirit. Daryl Deacon was absent but was ably represented by his head lad Michael Roche who commented; “This fellow had a lovely run first time out last season at Castletown. We thought he’d win next time out but his bloods were all wrong after. Thankfully he put it right today and is a very nice horse. He’ll either go for a winner’s race or to the sales now”.

The Denis Hickey-trained Buckie Cullen provided the recently passed Craigsteel with his second winner on the card when he duly obliged in the Fitzpatricks Lounge, Clonmore six-year-old-and-upwards maiden. The six-year-old travelled well into the contest and made eye-catching progress from the half-way juncture before taking up the lead approaching the last fence where he went on to score by five lengths over Whispering Hope providing Sean O’Keefe with his first point-to-point winner of the season having ridden a bumper winner for Liz Doyle at Punchestown last month. Hickey, who also owned and bred his charge commented; “That was a lovely performance. He’s one we bred ourselves from the family of Bob Treacy and he’s typical of the family in that he’s a great jumper”.

 The Jamie Codd-ridden Freeway Space made a winning return to point-to-points following her success in the Stapletons Bakery Mares’ Winner of One. The seven-year-old, who won her mares’ maiden at Ballindenisk in 2015, had previously been runner-up in bumpers on three occasions as well as in three hurdles throughout last season for her handler, David O’Brien. Given a patient ride by Codd, the daughter of Flemensfirth progressed to lead before the third last fence and soon gained a strong advantage over her rivals where she went on to win by six lengths over Senators Glory for her owners, the Delton Syndicate. “We’re delighted with that. She did it very nicely throughout today. She’s has good form on the track and will go back there now to go chasing”, stated her winning handler O’Brien.

STAR PERFORMANCE:  Blackjack Kentucky had plenty left in the tank as he powered clear in the closing stages and it will not be long before this improved performer is in the winner’s enclosure on the track.

VIDEOGRAPHER: Declan Barrett