Report | Oldcastle 21st April 2019

Peter Flood and Anthony Fox enjoyed a successful day at Oldcastle recording a double at the meeting.

The first of their successes came when Tokyo Getaway secured the REA McGee Auctioneers five-and-six-year-old mares' maiden.

Second on her last outing at Tattersalls back in December, the daughter of Getaway returned a comfortable three-length winner from the Sean Doyle-trained That’ The Truth. Owned by the handler’s mother Teresa Flood, the winning chestnut will now head to the sales.

The duos second success of the afternoon came in the Triermore Stud five-and-six-year-old geldings' maiden with Supreme Escape. The son of Milan returned from a mid-season break here having finished fourth in the four-year-old maiden at Kirkistown back in November.

Anthony Fox made much of the running aboard the winner, before the gelding picked up smartly in the closing stages to defeat the Colin Bowe-trained Usurper by a three lengths. Sporting the Pioneer Racing Partnership colours the winner will now be sold. 

The successful handler was absent on the day as he also enjoyed success at Quakerstown bringing his tally up to three for the day.

Up and coming Wexford rider Jordan Gainford secured his first career success in the Tattersalls Ireland and Oldcastle House Hotel six-year-old-and-upwards maiden for novice riders aboard Airgead Suas.

The Paul Pierce-trained mare who has a string of second placings to her name, gained a well-deserved success here when comfortably defeating Fiddler Of Dooney by ten lengths. Owned by Jim Whelan, the winning daughter of Gold Well was given a break following her last outing at Dungarvan and on this evidence she certainly goes well fresh.

The winning handler's brother, Andy Pierce was on hand to greet the winner and he said; "We gave her a break Dungarvan where she picked up a cut and she has come back a better mare. She has strengthened up a good bit and she is a very tough filly. I would say we might slip in a winners’ race before probably going to Doncaster at the end of the season.”

Kruzhlinin continued his unbeaten pointing form when taking the My Dream Boat - Compas Equine open in the hands of Barry O'Neill. The son of Sholokhov was returning to the point-to-point sphere following his eighth-place finish in the Aintree Foxhunters just two weeks ago.

Owned by Camilla Sharples the chestnut gelding recorded an easy fifteen-length success over the David Christie-trained Kadmer. The victory marked Kruzhlinin's eight success of the season which puts him back joined at the top of the champion pointer table with Longhouse Music.

Simon McGonagle was on hand to represent winning handler Gordon Elliot and he said; “He did that very well. The plan would be to tip away for another couple of open races and if we can win another one or two with him this season that should hopefully be enough to get him the title.”

Mick Goff enjoyed success in the Goffs Punchestown Sale four-year-old maiden with Ballinsker. The son of Court Cave raced up with the pace throughout under Shane Fitzgerald before taking command around the home bend.

Owned by Derek Tobin the gelding ran out an eight-length winner defeating Belfast Banter who was ridden by Mark O'Hare and handled by Patrick Turley. The winner was purchased as a foal for €6,000 back November 2016.

“David O’Brien does a lot of the work with him, he went and had a few quid on him today and it’s worked out.
That's the first four-year-old winner we have had this year, the horses have been a bit under the radar but I think we are back in business. He will probably go to the sales now,” said winning handler Mick Goff.

Achy Breaky Heart followed up her Tyrella success with a win in the Precia Molen mares' winner-of-one race for handler Shane Byrne and jockey Simon Cavanagh. The daughter of Milan, justified her favouritism when securing a three-and-a-half-length success over Tom Keating's Shuil Luas.

The winning handler, who purchased the Achy Breaky Heart as a store for €10,000 said; “I’m delighted with that. She won well in Tyrella and we were meant to go to the Cheltenham sales but she got a stone bruise so we missed that.

"But having fed her up for sales she really strengthened. She is a tough mare and a very good jumper. I will go for a winner-of-two race with her now and then probably to Doncaster for the sales at the end of the season.”