Racegoers were treated to a fun days racing at the picturesque location of Belharbour in Co.Clare which was combined with some fine performances.
Johnny Barry enjoyed a double on the day which was initiated by the Norman Lee-trained Cloone Lady in the Gain Horse Feeds, Gort Co-Op Mart & MacMahon Oil Race five-year-old-and-upwards mares’ maiden. Owned and bred locally in County Galway by the Gillane family, the daughter of Milan had been second on two previous starts this season at Boulta and Aghabullogue and took up the lead from the penultimate fence where she secured a three length win over Rollercoster.
“She deserved that. She just met a very good mare the last day in Aghabullogue. If she’s not sold she’ll go to the track next. She’s a very solid mare that will give connections great fun going forward. Johnny gave her a peach of a ride and it’s great to get a winner on local ground”, commented a delighted Lee.
“She deserved that. She just met a very good mare the last day in Aghabullogue. If she’s not sold she’ll go to the track next. She’s a very solid mare that will give connections great fun going forward. Johnny gave her a peach of a ride and it’s great to get a winner on local ground”, commented a delighted Lee.
The Race Bet & Pier Head Bar & Restaurant five-year-old geldings’ maiden went the way of the evens favourite Dlauro for the Donnchadh Doyle yard. The Rob James-ridden made it a pillar-to-post victory and had his rivals under pressure on the run to the final fence where he finished six lengths ahead of his runner-up Seemingly So. The son of Lauro was purchased by his handler for £33,000 at the Goffs UK Spring Store Sale in 2016 and is from the family of the 11-time winner Mossburn.
Doyle remarked; “This is a real proper horse. He’s very exciting and has always pleased us. He is a super jumper; he’s one of the nicest horses we’ve ever had. He’ll head to the sales now.”
Doyle remarked; “This is a real proper horse. He’s very exciting and has always pleased us. He is a super jumper; he’s one of the nicest horses we’ve ever had. He’ll head to the sales now.”
Barry's second leg of his double came aboard the Pat Doyle-trained Sydney Paget in the John O’Donnell Hardware & Clare Marts open which was the eleven-year-olds second time to win the race having won it in 2016. The Roddy O’Byrne-owned winner, who has now won nine point-to-points, produced a fine leap at the last, which allowed him to see off the challenge of his main market-rival Marinero by two-lengths.
Timmy O’Byrne, nephew of winning owner Roddy O’Byrne who is based in America reported: “He’s a great horse. He always delivers when you need him. The Joseph O’Reilly hunter chase at Fairyhouse might be on his agenda again, but we’ll leave that up to the boss (Pat Doyle).”
The Costello Family four-year-old maiden has been associated with many classy sorts over the years and this year racegoers saw the Nick Stokes-trained Envious Editor produce a very taking performance in the hands of Liam Quinlan. The son of Aizavoski, who stands at Eoin Banvilles Arctic Tack Stud in County Wexford, made good progress over the final mile where he pulled through to lead before the final fence and won by four lengths over the Pat Doyle-trained Famous Saying.
Tipperary-based Stokes stated of his wife Anna’s gelding: “I’ve never had a four-year-old out as early as this, but this fellow’s just done everything right from day one. He’s a nice horse that we feel is an above average sort. He’ll go to the sales now.”
Tipperary-based Stokes stated of his wife Anna’s gelding: “I’ve never had a four-year-old out as early as this, but this fellow’s just done everything right from day one. He’s a nice horse that we feel is an above average sort. He’ll go to the sales now.”
Ajijic followed up his recent Nenagh success with victory in the Sixmilebridge Co-Op Mart & Kerry Co-Op Corofin winner of one for the Terence Leonard yard. Owned and bred by Gerard Crosse, the son of Bach was head to head with the Peter Flood-trained Star Wizard at the final fence when the later departed which paved the way for the Chris O’Donovan-ridden winner to secure his second points success by 12 lengths over Abbazagga.
“We couldn’t believe how well he came out of his run last week, so we said we’d take our chance again and it’s paid off. He’s a lovely fun horse to have and we’re still aiming towards the Ladies Cup”, reported the winning handler.
“We couldn’t believe how well he came out of his run last week, so we said we’d take our chance again and it’s paid off. He’s a lovely fun horse to have and we’re still aiming towards the Ladies Cup”, reported the winning handler.
17-year-old Timmy Love secured his third winner of the season when he steered his grandmother Dot’s Thinkinginmysleep to victory in the Linnanes Bar & Restaurant & Kilnacrandy Farm Breaking & Pre Training Yard older geldings’ maiden.
The son of Spadoun who was runner up at Dowth Hall in October came through to lead on the run to the final fence where he stayed on gamely on the run-in to win by four lengths over Glorious Galway. Led in by his younger brother Matthew, Love is currently in sixth year at The Kings Hospital School in Lucan.
A delighted Love commented: “It really is a family affair with this horse. He’s given Timmy some spins in bumpers and that for experience and we’re thrilled he got his head in front today. Our next aim might be a hunter’s chase in Fairyhouse on the 14th Feb but Timmy is due to go on a skiing holiday that week, so something will have to give!”
The son of Spadoun who was runner up at Dowth Hall in October came through to lead on the run to the final fence where he stayed on gamely on the run-in to win by four lengths over Glorious Galway. Led in by his younger brother Matthew, Love is currently in sixth year at The Kings Hospital School in Lucan.
A delighted Love commented: “It really is a family affair with this horse. He’s given Timmy some spins in bumpers and that for experience and we’re thrilled he got his head in front today. Our next aim might be a hunter’s chase in Fairyhouse on the 14th Feb but Timmy is due to go on a skiing holiday that week, so something will have to give!”
