Report | Durrow 24th March 2019

Tiernan Roche recorded his fifth success of the season when steering Howya Hun to victory in the opening Kilmurrays Hardware five-year-old mares’ maiden.

Trained in Wexford by Ashleigh Murphy and owned by her husband Michael, the bay was certainly not winning out of turn here having previously been placed in both four-year-old maidens and in winners’ company most recently.

Providing Stowaway with his 13th winner of the season, the consistent sort found plenty for pressure in the home straight to see off the previously placed Racks Cross by a length.

Representative Gary Murphy was on hand to say: “She deserved that, as she had ran a few big races this season. She is a fine straightforward mare and they might go for a winners’ race with her if she isn’t sold.”

The prolific Fenno’s Storm brought his career tally to ten for owner Maurice Walsh, when taking the Dunnes Stores ladies open in the hands of Liz Lalor.

Successful in the Tetratema Hunter Chase earlier in the month, the eight-year-old bounced out and made all the running in this five runner contest, eventually getting the better of the promising Holly Flight by four lengths.

With handler Declan Queally absent on the day, Declan Queally senior said: “We will keep him in if the ground stays soft and he might go for the Joseph O’Reilly at Fairyhouse.

 He won’t get into the Irish National unfortunately, but we might go somewhere with him Sunday week. It was great to have Liz (Lalor), she is phenomenal.”

The Midland Veterinary, Tullamore winner of one saw Richard Black saddle Casey Jem to his second success of the season, having recorded a wide margin maiden success at Tallow in early February.

A son of the late Jeremy, the five-year-old was given a positive ride by Luke Murphy, forging clear from the penultimate obstacle to comfortably see off the attentions of eventual runner-up Clutch by two lengths.

“We took him to the sales, but when he didn’t sell the owners were happy to have a bit of fun with him. He is improving and getting stronger all the time, I might aim him at a Hunters Chase at Cork over Easter,” said the Wexford handler of the James Casey-owned gelding. 

Paul Bannon was seen to good effect when partnering the Pat Mackan-owned Trickey Trix to success in the ITBA older mares’ maiden.

The seven-year-old was the clear pick on form in this 15-runner contest and was duly sent off 2/1 favourite here having finished second on her last two starts at Oldtown and Farmacaffley.

Never too far away from the pace, the seven-year-old forged clear from three-out to win by a comfortable four lengths, with Awesome Lady coming home in second.

“She was due a twist as she is a tough genuine mare who stays and jumps well. She might go to the track now, although I might see if I can find a winners’ race for her first,” said successful handler Dermot McLoughlin.

The Claire Berry-owned Walshestown ran out a comprehensive winner of the Glen Wood, Tullamore five-year-old and upwards adjacent maiden providing Cork jockey Johnny Barry with a winner on both days of the two-day fixture at Durrow.

Making his debut for the Aidan Howard stable, the imposing son of Flemensfirth powered clear in the closing stages to account for runner-up Sastruga by five lengths.

Interestingly, the six-year-old is out of a half-sister to former Irish Grand National winner Thunder And Roses who finished third in the ladies open on the same card.

With the successful handler on duty at Naas, representative and former jockey Barry Cash said: “He was good there, he is a grand big horse that took a bit of time. Johnny gave him a lovely patient ride. We will have a chat with the owner now and see what they want to do.”

There was a major upset in the concluding Coolmore NH Division & Tullamore Agri older geldings’ maiden with one of the outsiders of the field, Krisquin, getting the better of the even-money favourite Cosmic Flight.

Trained by Shane Nolan, the successful eight-year-old was getting off the mark at the 13th attempt having previously been placed on a couple of occasions.

A spare ride for Pa King, the winner was handed the advantage at the final fence when the favourite erred in front, enabling the Moyville Racing Syndicate-owned gelding to snatch a length and-a-half success.

“That was well over due. He had shown a bit of from early on and then lost his way. I just freshened him up and I am delighted for his owners, a lot of people would have given up on him but they wanted to give him another chance. We will look for a winners of one now in four or five weeks’ time.”