Report | Tattersalls 08th December 2019

Rob James had a successful day at Tattersalls Farm as he recorded a double on the day to bring his season’s tally to ten, with his opening victory coming aboard the Donnchadh Doyle-trained Jerminnie Green in the Colorman five-year-old mares’ maiden.

The daughter of Jeremy rewarded the persistence of her connections and stepped-up from her two previous second-placed efforts to get the measure of her rivals by a widening 12 lengths.

Wexford handler Doyle said: “She is a very consistent mare. She had two good runs so I’m glad to see her getting her head in front now there anyway. She might go for a mares winners race after Christmas.”

The Tattersalls Ireland February NH Sale winner-of-one race saw Rob James bring up the concluding leg of his two-timer by teaming up with fellow Wexford native Ellen Doyle to capture this 12-runner contest with Crossing Lines.

The son of Jeremy, who put in an excellent round of jumping to win by an impressive 20 lengths, to follow up his wide-margin maiden success at Lisronagh last month.

With handler Ellen Doyle at Borris House, her brother James said: He’s a lovely horse. We came here thinking plenty of him and I’m glad he has delivered. We will see what happens, but we might just keep him and let him run away for the remainder of the season.”

Success in the first division of the My Dream Boat four-year-old geldings’ maiden went the way of handler Liz Doyle when the French-bred Valleres displayed a stylish performance in the closing stages to beat runner-up Ardhill by half-a-length in the hands of Cork-native Finan Maguire.

Winning Handler Doyle said: “He’s a nice horse, very babyish but was doing everything well at home. His two schooling hurdles were excellent. He’s still very babyish but it was great to see him kick on again after the last. He is a lovely clean horse and definitely has a good future. I’ll try and get a new owner for him in the next 24 hours and if not, it will be the sales.”

Es Perfecto, who had come to grief at Lingstown two weeks earlier when he slipped up in the closing stages, ensured he made no mistakes this time round, to come home in front under Jimmy O’Rourke, recording an eye-catching 12-length victory in the second division of the My Dream Boat four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The son of Shantou provided handler Colm Murphy with his first success between the flags since 2015 and will now be bound for the sales.

“He seems to be a horse with a hell of a big engine. I’d love to keep him for a bumper but unfortunately, the plan is to sell him. If we can keep him in the yard, I would love that. I think he’s a horse with a hell of a big future,” said Murphy.

Northern handler Jerry Cosgrave enjoyed his second success of the season courtesy of Big Leg Up when he recorded a five-length victory in the Declan Gannon Building Ltd five-year-old geldings’ maiden under Mark O’Hare.

Owned by Ian Moore, the son of Windsor Knot, who was a runner-up on three previous occasions, easily justified odds-on favouritism as he produced a much-improved performance by beating the Philip Rothwell-trained Icy Inferno.

Jerry Cosgrove, who has 20 horses in training and had his first winner on the flat in Dundalk recently said: “He is a lovely big staying chaser in the making. Ian Moore, who owns him, has a few horses and he wants to sell him.”

Sporting the William Deacon colours, Call it Time, a recent Lingstown runner-up, came on from his re-appearance to score by ten lengths over Kalamakan in the Pillo Hotel six-year-old and upwards maiden for novice riders.

Getting off the mark at the ninth time of asking, the seven-year-old gained a well-deserved success when guided to victory by Moira McElligott.

Winning Handler Daryl Deacon said: “It’s lovely because my uncle bred him, and he passed away last year. I was the best man for Willie (Murphy) and Moira (McElligott) at their wedding so it’s a special win. This horse has improved and he is a lovely horse with a big heart. I’d imagine we will keep pointing. I’ll ask Moira but I’d actually be tempted to look at the hunters chase at Limerick at Christmas.”