Report | Ballyragget 17th March 2019

Pa King enjoyed a successful St. Patrick’s Day recording a double at Ballyragget. The Tipperary rider's first success coming aboard the Peter Tyrell-owned Rose Of Aghaboe in the Gain Horse Feeds five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Handled by Willie Murphy the winning daughter of Gold Well returned to action just one week after falling at the fourth-last In Belclare. The six-year-old stayed on well to clinch victory, denying the Richie Deegan-ridden newcomer Elle Est Grande in the process.

The winning Co. Carlow-based handler said: “I worried that it might be a week to soon after running last week but she toughed it out well. We have wanted soft ground all winter for her so this was perfect. Once the ground stays like this, we might run her again in a few weeks.”

King completed his double in the John Phelan & Co and John Holland six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden aboard the Sam Curling-trained Aloneamongmillions.

The Tessa Forman-owned newcomer justified market support when he recorded a promising four-length victory over Brian McCarthy's Kildrum. 

The Roger Quinlan-ridden runner-up was coming off the back of a fourth-placed finish at Lingstown just seven days earlier. 

The winning son of Mahler is an €11,000 Derby sale graduate and his dam, Rathturtin Brief, is an own-sister to the seven-time point winner BL Swagger, who runs for the same connections.

Winning handler Sam Curling said: “He did that well. I had him as a four-year-old and he got hurt. He is very closely related to BL Swagger so I gave him to his owner Tessa Foreman, and they minded him for the last year. He will keep point-to-pointing for now and will then go for a hunter chase.”

Success in the Tallis and Co Aidan Brophy five-year-old geldings’ maiden went the way of Liam Kenny and Harley Dunne.

Owned and ridden by Dunne, Boss Man Fred recorded a fine two-and-a-half-length victory over the Tattletale to deny Sam Curling a double on the card.

The Dubai Destination gelding did not enjoy a smooth run, having been hampered around the final bend. Despite this, the winner battled well to overhaul the runner up, who had finished fourth on his last outing at Ballycahane.

“I was down the inner the whole way and the horses trying to get their position after the fourth-last just killed me all the way down to the bend. I just had to sit and suffer as I couldn’t get in there. But he did it well and would have won by further if I had gotten a clean run. He could go for a winners race now, and if not he will go to the sales.” said winning rider Harley Dunne.

Aidan Fitzgerald had been forced to settle for second earlier in the afternoon with runners at Ballyarthur and on this card, however he did enjoy some success in the Dicks SuperValu Ballyragget five-year-old and upwards adjacent maiden with Oscar Asche.

Owned by Jimmy Murphy, the son of Oscar ran out a six-length winner in the hands of Richie Deegan, with the pair easily accounting for the twice previously raced Special Buddy.

Winning handler Aidan Fitzgerald said; "I am delighted that he won for Jimmy (Murphy) as I have been good friends with him for years. That is the first horse that he has had with me. He bought him as a foal and then put him in training with me, and he will go to the sales now.”

Lough Derg Lyric took the John Dalton and Sons, Chancellors Mills winner of one race recording back-to-back successes for father and son partnership of Gerard and Brian Lawless.

The seven-year-old was following up his recent success at Kirkistown in February and the son of Court Cave ran out an impressive eight-length winner over the Peter McCreery-trained and owned Alkaa Lion.

The winning handler Gerard Lawless said: “Brian (Lawless) got him into a lovely rhythm and he pinged his fences. Fair dues to Brian and my daughter Katie. She does all the work with him, rides him out and schools him all the time. She has done a great job with him."

Eugene O'Sullivan claimed the day’s feature race, the Connollys Red Mills open, with Electric Concorde. 

Fourth at Kildorrery on his return to action, the Alurie O’Sullivan-owned eight-year-old, who was previously trained by Gold Cup winning trainer Jim Culloty, was guided to his two-and-a-half length defeat of Tim Hyde’s All Hell Let Loose by the winning handler’s nephew Michael O’Sullivan.

The Co. Cork handler said: “Gerard and Alurie O’Sullivan have been great owners for me and I am delighted that he won today for them. This horse will be a summer chaser, he may run in one more open and then we will look at a hunter chase at Cork over Easter and a trip over to Perth for a nice race there.”