Riders Richie Deegan and John Barry shared the day’s riding honours with the pair riding their first double of the season, with Deegan’s first victory came aboard the Warren Ewing-trained Brave Way, who was one of six newcomers in the Barnane Stud four-year-old mares’ maiden.
Brave Way a nicely bred daughter of the late Jeremy, who hails from the family of talented performers such as Classified and Coillte Lass, always travelled with ease throughout the contest and got the better of the Denis-Murphy trained Uptown Lady by one length.
The winning handler, who remains the only handler to have won the four-year-old contest at Knockinroe, having sent out Hawthorn Cottage to win it in 2017 said: “This is a smashing mare that I bought at Doncaster. She’s always shown us plenty at home, so we were hopeful coming here today.
“She’s from a good black type family that includes Classified who won 12 for the Pipes.”
The Carlow native completed his double in the Stapleton’s Bakery mares’ winner-of-two courtesy of Rosfoyle, while also providing Borris-based handler Aidan Fitzgerald with his first winner of the season.
Previously a two-time winner in the point-to-point field, the daughter of Milan followed up her wide-margin Belclare success.
Sporting the colours of owner Declan O’Keefe, the bay mare was in a prominent position throughout and put in a good display of jumping to battle gamely to the line and deny the Kinsale winner Chenery by a neck.
“I’m delighted for Declan and his family. She’ll stay pointing now but I’ve taken out a hunter’s chase licence especially for this mare. Richie gave her a great ride and we couldn’t be happier,” said Fitzgerald.
John Barry, fresh from his winner at Loughanmore on the previous afternoon, recorded the opening leg of his double for handler John Nallen aboard Minella Link in the grief-stricken Kenneally Family, Ballyheen four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
One of three finishers in a 12-runner contest, the son of Rail Link travelled strongly into the home straight, pulling clear after the last to defeat the Colin Bowe-trained newcomer In Disguise by an impressive ten lengths.
The French-bred gelding, who is from a Juddmonte black-type family, was purchased as a foal from the French provinces and will now be offered for sale.
The Fitzpatrick’s Lounge, Clonmore six-year-old maiden saw Cork raider Barry bring up the concluding leg of his two-timer by teaming up with local handler Eddie Power, when The Blind Piper returned ten lengths ahead of Call It Time.
The son of Robin Des Champs, who was appearing for the first time since moving from Paddy Twomey’s yard, got off the mark at the second time of asking, having pulled up at Moig South on his first outing back in March 2018.
Power, who currently has seven in training said: “This is a big 17hh horse that’s a half-brother to Kildisart of Ben Pauling’s. He never really got his ground last year and we even rolled the dice with the ground today, but he did it impressively. He’ll go for a winners’ race next.”
Favourite Bailehuiguincailin made her experience count when running out a ten-length winner in the Young Oil Ltd, Templemore five-year-old mares’ maiden for handler Michael Butler in the hands of Kilkenny native Cathal Healy.
The daughter of Scorpion, who is owned by John Irish, will now be sold as Butler said: “Today was the plan with this mare, after today anything else is a bonus. She may be sold now but if not, she’ll go for a mares winners race.”
Success in the Councillor Noel Coonan & JH Roche & Son five-year-old geldings’ maiden went the way of the father and son partnership of Liam and James Kenny courtesy of Ashtown Lad.
The Previously placed son of Fleminsforth, made all the running and demolished his rivals by recording an impressive 18-length victory after galloping all the way to the line to record the fastest time of the day.
The bay gelding, who was a €65,000 Derby sale graduate, will now head to the sales.
“This is a lovely horse that did it very nicely today. He enjoyed the ground today but is happy on any ground to be honest. We had planned on going to the sales with him, so I’d say that remains the plan now,” said Kenny.
