Report | Ballindenisk 05th January 2020

The Aidan Fitzgerald-trained Nada To Prada showed all the right qualities by making a taking winning debut under Richie Deegan in the Tattersalls Ireland five-year-old mares’ maiden.

Nada To Prada, the definite pick of the paddock beforehand, was always well positioned in this seven-runner contest and the sweet-jumping daughter of Kayf Tara made her way to the front before the second last to beat Cailin Dearg by five lengths in the familiar Cobajay Syndicate silks.

“She has been ready to run for the past few weeks and she will now go to the sales,” said Fitzgerald of Nada To Prada, an €8,500 acquisition at last year’s May sale at Tattersalls that’s out of a victorious half-sister to Grade 1 novice chase winner Another Promise.

Terence O’Brien has his string in cracking fettle and the locally based Carrigtwohill operator combined with Darragh Allen to capture the Goffs UK January Sale five-year-old geldings’ maiden, the race that attracted the biggest field of the day in 14 runners, with newcomer Anglers Crag.

The Multiplex-sired Anglers Crag, representing his British-based breeder Derrick Mossop, tracked the frontrunning Mongol Emperor virtually throughout until forging to the front after two out.

Anglers Crag duly returned with four lengths to spare over Mongol Emperor with a further one and a half lengths back to the third-placed Drenagh.

"He hadn't been away to gallop all that much. Darragh [Allen] gave him a good confident ride and he's a horse that I'd imagine his owner will be hanging on to," said O'Brien of Anglers Crag.

Jim Dreaper’s newcomer Mr Bercow justified the trek from Co. Meath by landing the O’Farrell Meats & Mary Ryan six-year-old geldings’ maiden in the hands of Barry O’Neill.

Mr Bercow, a son of Insatiable that was acquired for €16,000 at the 2017 Tattersalls Ireland August sale, was always well positioned and he assumed command on the run to the last to see off Comeragh Lad by three lengths in the Lord Fingal colours of Elaine O’Farrell.

Dreaper’s son Tom said: “He’s a lovely horse that has just needed a lot of time. We will run him in a winners’ race and maybe a hunters chase later on before hopefully going down the handicap chase route next season.”

Racegoers were treated to a gripping finish in the Kepak novice riders open with the Jimmy Mangan-trained Bandon Bridge recording a narrow success over Fenno’s Storm.

Bandon Bridge was sent through by Mikey Sweeney to overtake Fenno’s Storm at the second last and there was little to separate the pair on the run to the final fence.

It was Bandon Bridge that secured the faster leap here as Fenno’s Storm blundered and, although rallying on the flat, the runner-up was still a short head adrift of Karen O’Driscoll’s homebred at the line.

“This fellow absolutely loves the soft ground and we will tip away in points with him. I'm delighted for Mikey [Sweeney] as he gave him a great ride,” said Mangan.

The Batt O’Connell-trained Truckers Angel showed the necessary improvement from her fifth-placed effort at this same venue last month by easily landing the Hurley’s SuperValu six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden under Shane Baragry.

Truckers Angel, who was having a fourth career start, moved closer setting out on the final circuit and she set sail for home with two fences remaining.

It was plainly apparent that the winning daughter of Fame And Glory, homebred by her handler’s partner Kaye Moroney, was possessing all the aces on the run to the final fence and she duly defeated the staying-on Slideaway by five lengths.

“She’s a tough mare that has just taken a bit of time,” said six-horse handler O’Connell of the Conna Enclosure Syndicate-owned Truckers Angel.

Shay Slevin’s On Call, who was placed over hurdles last year for Joseph O’Brien, stepped up from his third-placed effort at Tattersalls Farm last month by easily landing the closing East Cork Oil seven-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

A 111-rated hurdler, On Call made virtually all the running for Rob James to account for The Bonny Boy by four lengths.

“He loves this soft ground and we might go for a winners’ race with him now,” said handler Slevin of On Call, owned by his wife Liz.