Report | Tinahely 12th January 2020

Barry O'Neill continued his good form with a concluding race double where it was Conor O' Dwyer's charge, Kopolov, who secured the first leg of that double for owner Ciaran Jones in the Germaines Bar & Restaurant sponsored seven-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

The seven-year-old daughter of Fruits Of Love was always prominent throughout, before quickening and asserting before the final fence, to go on and account for Awesome Lady by a comfortable five lengths.

"Barry [O'Neill] likes her and said to look at a mares winners and we might go to the track at some stage. This is the owners first horse with me, and he is local to us," said O'Dwyer.

The second leg of that double came courtesy of the Paddy Quinlan-owned and trained Handy Headon, who was absent since falling in the Bishopscourt Cup at the Punchestown Festival last spring.

The well-backed son of Well Chosen delivered in impressive fashion in the Sheridan-Colohan Insurances seven-year-old and upwards geldings' maiden over Mr Cosmos.

"He had gone well in a good maiden at Monksgrange last season and then was unlucky in Punchestown. I am hoping to go for the hunt race at Punchestown next and then back for the Bishopscourt Cup, that is my Cheltenham,” said Quinlan.

Donnchadh Doyle continued his fine season, adding another winner to his tally with Robin Des Theatre in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.

In the colours of the Monbeg Syndicate, the daughter of Robin Des Champs proved to be very game where it was needed most to record a length-and-a-half success under James Walsh over Lawlors Choice in second.

"She had been working well and we thought a good bit of her. Donnchadh was thinking about running her before Christmas but she wasn't quite right so he held off. She will go to the sales now," said Andy Pierce, who is a part-owner of the five-year-old

The Colin McKeever and Wilson Dennison combination are certainly no stranger to the winner’s enclosure, and the pair teamed up once again to take The Shillelagh & District Hunt Thanking Local Farmers five and six-year-old geldings' maiden with Folcano.

Stephen Connor did the steering aboard this unlucky five-year-old who had come to grief at the final fence in his two starts during the autumn, but he made amends to defeat Kilbeg King by a length and a-half.

"He is a lovely horse. He stays galloping and how he has got two falls to his name I don't know because he does jump very well, that is the most annoying thing. He will probably go to the sales now and is a good horse so I hope he goes to a good yard," said McKeever of his son of Falco.

Having recently been purchased by Philip Reynolds as a Cheltenham Foxhunters prospect, Mighty Stowaway kept on very well from the back of the last fence to score by a comfortable five lengths in the Slaney Foods open.

Ridden by Scottish native Tom Hamilton, Shark Hanlon's charge has an impressive record in open company with three wins this season from four runs.

"He did that well. He has a new owner now in Philip Reynolds and it is the first horse that he has with me. It is great to have him in the yard. There is a ladies race at Nenagh in the middle of February and we will definately have a look at that before going to Cheltenham. I think he will be even better on nice ground," said Hanlon.

The Central House Shillelagh winner-of-one for novice riders went the way of the Mick Goff-trained Nelsons Rock.

Ridden by Kevin Corrigan, the son of Mount Nelson was always prominent, before going on to account for Oscar Bonnie by an eight lengths.

"He won here and improved a mile since that. He jumps, travels, and stays. If it is a thing that he doesn't sell I wouldn't mind keeping the horse. He has enough speed to win over shorter distances," said Goff.