Report | Lismore 10th Mar 18

West Waterford (F) at Lismore on Saturday 10th March.

Donnchadh Doyle, who saddled an amazing seven winners across three meetings on Sunday, got his weekend off to the best possible start by sending out Feel My Pulse to record an emphatic front-running success in the hands of Rob James in the The Connery Family, Aglish & Tattersalls Ireland four-year-old maiden. The physically-imposing Feel My Pulse, a mid-May foal by Stowaway, gave an exhibition of fencing at the head of affairs and he asserted from two out to dismiss fellow first-timer Young Bull by 15 lengths in the style of a horse that we will be hearing a lot more about. “He’s a proper big, good-looking horse that has always done everything right and he loved the ground out there today. He will now hopefully go to the Cheltenham sales next Thursday, “reported handler Doyle of the Monbeg Syndicate-owned Feel My Pulse, a half-brother to listed mares’ hurdle winner Myska that was acquired for €60, 000 at last year’s Derby sale.

The Donie Murphy-trained Destinys Choice stepped up from her excellent fifth-placed debut effort in a vintage Templenacarriga contest on New Year’s Eve by providing Eoin O’Brien with the opening leg of a two-timer in the Glanbia & Coolmore five-year-old-and-upwards mares maiden. Destinys Choice always travelled well within herself and the sister to She’s Da One and Pressies Girl effortlessly took up the running after the second last. With one of her closest pursuers West Vintage falling at the final fence, the winning daughter of Dubai Destination then swept clear to beat long-time leader Conformist by 12 lengths. “She will probably now go to a sale now or if she’s not sold, she will run in a mares’ point-to-point bumper, “remarked handler/breeder Murphy of his wife Geraldine’s Destinys Choice.

There was a most unusual occurrence in the OKeeffe Sawmills Ltd, Lismore winners of two as Tom Feeney beat his son Adam into second spot by steering Roy Tector’s mare Turndownthevolume to a resounding success over Sweet Destination. Turndownthevolume, having finished a respectable second to Mushera Mor on her previous start at Kildorrery last month, picked up the running clearly travelling best before the last and she then forged clear to triumph by an increasing 15 lengths. “She blew up the last day in Kildorrery as she was awfully sick after winning at Mainstown in December, “confessed Clonroche-based owner/handler/breeder Tector. “Thankfully, I was able to keep her ticking over during the snow and I bring her up to ‘Dusty’ Sheehy’s a few times a week. She will probably now run in a chase at some stage. “

Just three horses lined up in the Pegus Horse Feeds five-and-six-year-old geldings maiden and John Nallen sent out his initial winner of the campaign when Minella Beat, owned by his wife Bernardine Rochford, made a triumphant career debut in the hands of John Barry. Minella Beat, a son of Beat Hollow, led from the sixth fence except that he was then narrowly headed by Get Supreme approaching the final fence. Get Supreme however came to grief here as Minella Beat readily quickened to dispose of the only other finisher Carry On Scorpion by  12 lengths. “You can only beat what’s put in front of you, “said hotelier Nallen of Minella Beat, whom he purchased as a foal. “John (Barry) said that he was still happy coming to the last and he will hopefully now travel to the Cheltenham sale. “

Eoin O’Brien brought up his two-timer by combining with the absent Jimmy Mangan to collect in the The Old Road Stud & Horney Brooks Garage five-year-old-and-upwards confined maiden with Judkin, the last horse bred by the late Paul Ryan from Cashel and owned by his widow Kathleen. Judkin, having finished second in a similar type of event on his debut at Tallow last month, could be called the most likely winner from two out. With runner-up Crystal Kate jumping out to the right at the final fence when in the lead, Judkin forged to the front soon after and he stayed on stoutly to beat Mikey O’Connor’s mount by two lengths. “This is a stepping stone as he’s a horse that is still very green, “said Mangan’s wife Mary of Judkin.

Sydney Paget recorded his fourth straight success of the season by gamely justifying odds-on favouritism in the hands of Derek O’Connor in the Connollys Red Mills Horse Feeds & West Waterford Hunt open. Allannahs Gold set out with the intention of making all and he certainly gave it a good go from the front as the eventual winner had to be rousted along to close after two out. Sydney Paget though reduced the deficit and he stormed to the front before the last. Having landed the quicker over this final obstacle, he asserted on the flat to see off the gallant Allannahs Gold by eight lengths. “He’s a wonderful horse and the day that he tells me that he doesn’t want to do it any more, that will be it, “said handler Pat Doyle of the Roddy O’Byrne-owned Sydney Paget. “We will obviously mind him, but I would love for him to be leading pointer this season. “