Report | Loughanmore 26th October 2019

Barry O’Neill hit full stride at Loughanmore as he recorded a treble to bring his season’s tally to eight after just four weekends of racing, with his opening victory coming aboard the Colin Bowe-trained Fiston Des Issards in the first division of the Dennison Commercials Ltd four-year-old maiden.

The Milestone Partnership-owned son of Bucks Boum denied the Castletown-Geoghegan runner up Boothill by three and a half lengths.

"He's a fine big horse that was bought from Walter Connors at the spring sale in Doncaster last year," said Bowe of Milestone Racing Partnership's £28,000 acquisition.
"He's a nice horse that should improve plenty and he will now go to the sales."

O’Neill was credited with his second success of the afternoon in the second division of that Dennison Commercials Ltd four-year-old maiden when Jay Bee Why also completed a double for leading handler Colin Bowe.

The son of Yeats, who was making a winning debut, pulled clear after the last to defeat the Donnchadh Doyle-trained newcomer Lifetime Ambition by three lengths.

"He's a nice horse that was bought as a foal and he will now go to a sale," said Bowe of the Milestone Racing Partnership-owned son of Yeats, that is out of a half-sister to Grade 3-placed hurdler Lordberniebouffant, from the same family as Calgary Bay and The Grey Monk.

The favourite The Boulder Boy justified market support when he recorded a promising one-length victory over Sam Curling’s Personal Coach in the Move Right Therapy six-year-old geldings’ maiden, while also completing O’Neill’s treble.

The Brian Hamilton-trained son of Robin Des Pres was coming off the back of a second-placed finish at Portrush just a week earlier, where a costly final fence error on the day saw him finish just two-lengths behind winner Back to Bataan.Owned by The Lonely Poet Syndicated the winning gelding, will now be aimed at a winner contest.

Holycross Lito made a victorious return to action when landing the Glenpatrick Horseboxes mares’ open for the in-form father-son partnership of Sean and Noel McParlan, to deny last season's joint champion pointer Longhouse Music by six lengths.

A four-time winner, the Beneficial mare had already proved herself against powerhouse Longhouse Music when beating her by eight-lengths in a winner of three contest in Largy back in 2017 and despite having no luck on her last couple of runs on the track the nine-year-old-mare returned to her winning ways on Saturday.

"She's after easily beating the best mare from last season and she will stay pointing a wee while now,” said the elder McParlan, who also reported that the physically-imposing nine-year-old may also be campaigned in hunter chase company.

It proved to be a worthwhile trip north of the border for Wexford-based handler Sean Doyle, as My Story recorded back to back successes when taking Islandbawn winner-of-two race in the hands of Rob James.

The son of Court Cave was following up his recent success at Loughrea two weeks earlier, as he continues to look a force to be reckoned with following a stint of running on the track.

Sporting the colours of the Monbeg Partnership, the bay gelding came from off the pace and went to the front after the last where he stayed on dourly in the closing stages to eclipse Drimshee Lad by two lengths.

"It was very good of Tom (George) and Mr (Roger) Brookhouse to send him to Sean to go back pointing with,” said the absent Doyle's younger brother Eamonn.
"With luck, he should develop into a really nice pointer this season.

Wexford handler Benny Walsh and rider Jamie Scallan combined on the day to open their account for the season courtesy of Arans Choice in the Stonebridge Premium Feeds five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

The daughter of Scorpion, who was appearing for the first time since moving from William Martin’s yard, defied a 20-month absence to battle it out to the finish line to score by a length over Ringneill.

Handled by Neil McKnight from Loughbrickland, McGarry ran out a comfortable two and a half-length winner over the Dermot McLoughlin-trained Autumn Crusade under Cork rider John Barry in the Jacksons Butcher Shop & Bakery five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The son of Mahler had finished an eye-catching second on his debut at Taylorstown and stepped-up from this performance to get the measure of his rivals from the last fence in the five runner contest.

"He's a horse with a high cruising speed and we have plenty of options with him now. He might go to the sales or if not, we could run him in a bumper,” said McKnight who has ten horses in training for the new season.