Report | Ballysteen 22nd Apr 18

The Pat Doyle-trained Sydney Paget continued his remarkable run of form this season to record his seventh consecutive success this term in the The Cois Sionna Credit Union Open. The Roger O’Byrne-owned gelding made all in the eight runner contest in the hands of Derek O’Connor to score by a comfortable five lengths at the finish over Oighear Dubh. The 11-year-old is very much on track to be crowned the leading pointer this season.

“What more can you say about this horse, he’s unbelievable. To maintain his form and to stay sound like this. We’ll keep him ticking over now for the next few weeks, “reported a delighted Doyle.

Derek O’Connor teamed up with Pat Doyle earlier in the day where the pair took the Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham sale four-year-old maiden with Quoi De Neuf. Carrying the familiar colours of Walter Connors, the son of Anzillero received a patient ride where he made steady progress from the third last fence and took up the lead on the approach to the final fence to win by nine lengths over Howling Milan.

Walter Connors has enjoyed success with this family in points previously as he also had Au Quart De Tour and Cap Du Nord who were also bred by the same dam with the former winning his maiden at Dromahane for the same team and the latter just being touched off there last year. Quoi De Neuf was quickly added to the line-up for the Goffs Punchestown sale on Thursday evening.

Luke Murphy has been enjoying a stellar spring this year and the Wexford native recorded his ninth winner of the season when he steered the Denis Murphy-trained Serious Ego to victory in the first division of the Goffs Punchestown sale five-year-old geldings’ maiden. Murphy deputised for Jamie Codd who suffered a heavy fall in the first race and was transferred to the University Hospital Limerick.

Bought at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby sale in 2016 for €20,000, the son of Sholokhov stepped up from his debut effort at Mainstown in December where the Alan Harte-owned gelding was sixth to Global Jackpot. Taking up the lead after the penultimate fence, Serious Ego held off the strong challenge of Along The Reeks by one and three quarter lengths.

Winning handler Murphy commented; “This is a nice horse who goes well at home. We were worried about the ground for him today but he’s done it well today and was cantering down to the last. He’s sales bound now.”

My Oldman gained a deserved success for the Ross O’Sullivan yard in The Top of the Town & Joshs Bar, Askeaton six-year-old-upwards geldings’ maiden under Michael Stenson which was his second winner of the season here from just nine rides. Runner-up on three of his four previous starts in point-to-points with his most recent run coming at Castletown-Geoghegan earlier in the month, the son of Stowaway was close to the pace throughout and produced a good jump at the final fence to win by two lengths over Dubai Dandy for his owner, Rebecca Surman who was enjoying her first winner as an owner.

The winning handler was absent as he also had runners at Navan on Sunday but his representative John Sleator commented; “This horse has just been unfortunate to just find one too good on a few occasions. In fairness Michael gave him a cracking ride today and it was probably the winning of the race.”

Trainer Colin Bowe is currently one winner behind Donnchadh Doyle to sit in second position on the leading point-to-point handler table this season with 21 winners which had been added to by the victory of Danny Whizzbang in the second division of the Goffs Punchestown five-year-old geldings maiden. The €40,000 Goffs Landrover sale purchase had made his debut at Ballinaboola in November where he pulled up behind Know The Score.

The son of Getaway is a half-brother to the Listed hurdle winner Lastbutnotleast, who won a mares’ maiden at Toomebridge in October 2015 for Colin Bowe. The Barry O’Neill ridden winner progressed to lead after the third last fence where he soon held a strong advantage over his rivals to win by two and a half lengths over Ask Ben.

Wayne Kehoe had a memorable day at the Co. Limerick track as he saddled his first winner with Backintheoldtimes in the Enzos Cafe, P J Dore Pumps & Dovecote Restaurant five-year-old-upwards ares’ maiden. The five-year-old daughter of Olden Times had not run since Dromahane in November when she unseated her rider at the penultimate fence.

The Linda Butler-owned, mare was ridden prominently throughout and progressed to lead before the final fence under Shane Fitzgerald where she stayed on well on the run-in to win by six lengths over Siamsa Cois Laoi. 

A delighted Kehoe reported “It’s great to get off the mark. This mare probably wasn’t in love with the heavier ground on her earlier runs. We’ve always thought she was nice though and she’ll probably be sold now.”

Baily Fox has been a consistent servant for his connections this season and stepped up from his recent Rathcannon runner-up effort last weekend to take the Davy Mann winners of two. Ridden to victory by Billy Gleeson for his father John, the six-year-old was a winner at Cragmore in February and took up the lead after the first mile where the son of Milan was never headed and returned home the three length winner over Arctic Road. 

Winning handler Glesson commented; “This has been a lucky track for us as Billy rode his first points winner here a couple of years ago. This horse is entered in Punchestown on Thursday (tomorrow) in the La Touche Cup but having a winner here on local ground is huge for us. He’ll probably be kept hunter chasing for the rest of the season for Billy.”