Report | Curraghmore 21st April 2019

Denis Murphy and Jamie Codd combined to record a first and second race double with the pair opening their account with newcomer Grangeclare Native in the nine-runner contest Goffs Punchestown Sale four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Sporting the colours of Edelle Logan, the Shantou gelding, was always well positioned on the inner and he moved second behind fellow first-timer Unbreakable Bond two-out.

The eventual winner assumed command approaching the last and he ultimately beat Unbreakable Bond by a comprehensive two and a half lengths, the pair returning seven lengths clear of the third-placed Maasai Warrior.

"He's a gorgeous horse and his work at home has been very good. Jamie [Codd] said that he was green coming up the home straight and there should be loads of improvement in him," said Murphy of Grangeclare Native, a half-brother to Line Ball out of a half-sister to Mighty Mogul that was bought for €45,000 by Joey Logan Bloodstock at last year's Derby sale.

The Lake Tour Stables five-year-old geldings’ maiden saw Writteninthesand complete the Murphy/Codd brace by justifying favouritism in this race, the one that attracted the biggest field of the afternoon in 17 runners.

The Milan-sired Writteninthesand, absent since finishing third to Young Buck on his only previous start at Nenagh in mid-February, mastered long-time leader Clondaw Dancer on the run to the final fence to score by three lengths. The newcomer Get The Facts meanwhile secured the minor honours, a further 12 lengths adrift.

"When he ran at Nenagh in February, my horses were all sick at the time. He's a very nice horse and he will now go to some of the sales,” said owner/trainer Murphy of Writteninthesand, a half-brother to Fergal O'Brien's Grade 1 novice hurdle winner Poetic Rhythm whom he acquired through his Ballyboy Stables for €55,000 at the 2017 Derby sale. 

Johnny Barry moved onto the 15 winner mark for the season by posting a sometimes unlikely looking success aboard Kieran Purcell's five-year-old Solo Cargo in the Tattersalls Ireland winner of one. Dream On John set out to make all and the market-leader still held the call from three-out as the eventual winner appeared held in fifth spot.

Solo Cargo however made his way into contention from the penultimate obstacle and he surged to the head of affairs on the run to the final fence to account for My Oakclahome by three parts of a length.

"He's a horse that wants a real galloping track. He ideally wants a hurdle or a fence in front of him and he will probably go hurdling now, provided that he's not sold,” said owner/trainer Purcell.

Michael O'Sullivan, currently leading the novice riders' championship, unfortunately sustained an injury to his left wrist in a fall from Trapper in this race and the 19-year-old is now set for a period on the side-lines.

19-year-old Cal Shine, who has only recently returned from injury, recorded his initial success of the season aboard the Michelle Duggan-trained Superefficient in the Kilbarry Lodge Stud five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.

Superefficient, an ex-track performer that finished third in a two-mile Sligo maiden hurdle last July, stepped up from her fifth-placed points debut effort at Lisronagh in late March by benefiting  from front running tactics.

Although narrowly headed by runner-up Atomic Article at the final fence, she fought bravely on the short run-in to edge out Ashleigh Murphy's charge by a head in a race that saw a little over three lengths cover the first five home.

The handler who trains a small string outside Lombardstown, commented of the Sean Leahy-owned Superefficient: "She had some nice track form previously. She's a real tough mare and she will now go for a winners’ race. She loved this good ground and I'd imagine that she will go back running on the track for the summer. "

The Billy Burke - Fishmonger, Vincent Halley - Trainer & Talbot Hotel confined maiden saw John O'Neill from Kildare town partner his third winner of the season aboard the John Redmond-trained five-year-old Highway Prince, who finished a fine fourth on his previous start at Lisronagh in late March.

Highway Prince was always positioned quite close to the pace and the winning son of Prince Flori, who actually stands at owner Sean Kinsella's Knockhouse Stud, made the best of his way home from the second last to dismiss Playlist by three lengths.

"He has improved from his run at Lisronagh and he likes this good ground. He will now go for a winners’ race," said handler Redmond, who also started off last Sunday's Cork Grade 3 Betway Chase winner Timeforwest in points as a four-year-old filly in 2016.

Michael Sweeney continued to gain admirers and the 19-year-old from Mount Mellerary will seldom ride an easier winner than he did aboard Clonguile Way in this closing contest.

The recent Rathcannon runner-up Clonguile Way, trained by Ballingarry, west Limerick-based handler Willie O'Doherty for Bridget O'Keeffe, picked up the running after three-out and it was all plain sailing from the second last as he coasted clear to beat Tintern Trails by an unchallenged 18 lengths. A winners’ race is now likely to feature for Clonguile Way.