Report | Knockmullen House 10th November 2019

Local handler Sean Doyle continued his strong start to the season when recording a double at the new Knockmullen House venue, bringing his season’s total to five.

The first of Doyle’s two visits to the winner’s enclosure came courtesy of The Forge Hill when she won the Gain Equine Nutrition five-year-old and upwards adjacent mares’ maiden in impressive fashion under Jordan Gainford.
A final fence casualty on her seasonal debut at Tinahely, the daughter of Morozov ensured she made no mistakes this time round as she was well in command throughout the contest with her closest pursuer Brazen Bay coming home ten lengths in arrears.
“She’s a nice mare and she won well. She’s bred by John Tobin, out of Shers Dream, who won three point-to-points for me. We’ll probably go onto the track with her now,” said Doyle.

My Story preserved his unbeaten record for the season, winning three from three, when landing the Ballywalter Farms open for novice riders, completing Doyle’s double.
Jamie Scallan guided the son of Court Cave to victory in what was a thrilling finish that ultimately saw the seven-year-old get his head in front of the Liam Kenny-trained Undressed by three-quarters of-a-length.
Winning handler Doyle said: “It’s nice to get a double. I think Jamie (Scallan) was a bit more confident on him. He’s a great horse to have, we’ll keep him point to pointing now.”

Fresh from winning the four-year-old geldings’ maiden at Dromahane, Colin Bowe recorded his second success of the day by sending out Visionarion to make a triumphant career debut in the Knockmullen House Stud & Wexford Hunt four-year-old maiden in the hands of James Kenny.
A €48,000 store purchase, the son of Vision D’Etat was headed by the Donnachadh Doyle-trained Franigane at the final fence, but a last-minute surge of speed from the French-bred gelding on the run-in saw him prevail to win by a comfortable two lengths.
Jim O’Neill, who owns the winner with Bowe, said: “Colin (Bowe) really fancied him here today, he thought it would take a nice horse to beat him. If everything’s ok with him he’ll probably go to the sales now.”

In-form handler Vincent Devereux claimed the NitroFert five-year-old geldings’ maiden when his charge Mr Mantilla ran out a two-length winner over Milanford, denying his rider James Kenny a double on the day.
Carrying the colours of the handler’s father James, the son of Publisher travelled well throughout the race to make the perfect start to his racing career in the hands of Shane O’Rourke.
“I’m happy out. Hopefully we’ll sell this fella now. He’s homebred by my father (James) and by our own sire Publisher too,” said Devereux.

Vinnies Nephue made a victorious return to action when landing the Cooney Furlong winner-of-one race for the husband and wife partnership of William Murphy and Moira McElligott when getting the better of Ihavent A Clue.
The son of Alkadeem, who finished a fine second to Alkaa Lion on his final start at Moira last term, stepped-up from that performance to get the measure of his rivals from the last fence and record the second success of his career.
Winning owner Pat Kennedy said: “He did that well for his first time out this season. He was well suited by this ground. We’ll run him on the track now hopefully.”

Success in the Horse & Hound Hotel six-year-old and upwards maiden went the way of Conna natives Seamus Spillane and Johnny Hurley when Goulane Jessie claimed the concluding race of the day by one and a half lengths.
Returning from an unsuccessful spell under rules, the daughter of Well Chosen, who was sporting the colours of owner Mary O’Donnell, battled all the way to the line to lose her maiden tag, defeating the Aidan Howard-trained Delice Du Cheni in the process.
“I’m delighted with that. She really deserves it. She’s been running a long time and always been near, it’s just great to get that win with her. We’ll stick to point to point’s now and see how she goes,” said owner Mary O’Donnell