Report | Tallow 09th February 2020

Barry O’Neill partnered two winners at Tallow, the only race meeting of any description to take place in Ireland on Sunday. 

The reigning champion opened his account aboard Colin Bowe’s newcomer Glenglass in the Tinakill House four-year-old maiden.

Glenglass, an initial Irish points winner for sire Ocovango, was sent off favourite in this eight-runner contest and the giant-sized chestnut did not aid his cause by making a couple of errors.

The eventual winner though still made his way to the front approaching the final fence to see off the staying on Poppa Poutine by one-length in the Milestone Racing Partnership silks.

“He's a horse with tonnes of raw ability and he showed a nice will to win there. We bought him at the Derby sale last year and he will now head back to the sales,” said Bowe.

O’Neill doubled up aboard the Richard Black-trained Zihuatanejo in the Coolmore Stud National Hunt Division six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden. 

Zihuatanejo, absent since finishing second to the subsequent Grade 1-placed Champagne Platinum at Quakerstown in April 2018, made all the running to eclipse Rwegoinhigh by a snug one and a half lengths in the Big Zeb silks of Gorey hotelier Paddy Redmond.

“The experience will do him good and he will now go for a maiden hurdle,” said Black.

Arctic Skipper provided Johnny Barry with a 150th points success by landing the Rathbarry & Glenview Stud open.

The Vincent Halley-trained Arctic Skipper, runner-up in this same race last year, assumed command from two out to thwart the evergreen Better B Quick by three lengths.

Handler Halley said of his father Lar's Arctic Skipper: "It was a very tactical race here today and I'd imagine that he will go for another open.”

Cappoquin-based owner/trainer James Collender, who has just two horses in training, sent out Kilbree Warrior to destroy the opposition under Tom Feeney in The Old Road Stud & GAIN Equine Nutrition five-and-six-year-old mares’ maiden. 

Kilbree Warrior, who led when falling two out on her previous start at Boulta in December, made all the running and she was not in the remotest of danger from three out as she stormed to a 12-length success over Sheer Liss.

"She's a good honest mare that Tom [Feeney] rides out for us at home and we weren’t afraid of anything coming here today,” said Collender.

Michael Murphy’s Recite A Prayer atoned for pulling up on his debut at Dromahane in late December by coming home as he pleased in the Goffs UK Aintree Sale five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Recite A Prayer was left in front when Sportify fell three out and the winning son of Recital surged clear from the second-last to beat the only other finisher Sunset West by 12 lengths under Tiernan Roche.

“We expected a big run at Dromahane, but he scoped badly afterwards,” said Murphy of Redbridge Stables.

The meeting’s landowner Jimmy Mangan saddled Arvicta to record a popular victory in The Goulding Family & The John Connery Family (Aglish) & BH Tree Services five-year-old and upwards adjacent maiden.

Arvicta stepped up from his third-placed Aghabullogue effort by effortlessly assuming command before two out for Johnny Hurley, to dismiss Trees Valley by six lengths.

"He's a fine horse that's still a bit weak and he will be a nice prospect for next year. We will give him one more run to get experience and that will probably be it then for this season,” said Mangan of the Hanford’s Chemist Limited-owed Arvicta.