Report | Oldtown 15th February 2020

Ian Donoghue, who returned to the saddle this season after a ten year break from race-riding, enjoyed a day to remember when registering the opening leg of his first career double for handler William Durkan aboard Screaming Colours in the Gannons City Recovery open for novice riders.

Former track performer Screaming Colours, who has been absent since May 2018, ran out an easy nine-length winner over Venitien De Mai and will now be aimed at the Banks race in Lingstown.

“We thought he was a classy horse but just with his injury, he had been off so it’s great to get him back. Next year he could be a horse for Aintree – maybe the Foxhunters,” said Gary Bannon, who was representing Durkan.

The Considine Family six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden saw Donoghue bring up the concluding leg of his two-timer by teaming up with Patrick Casey to capture this four-runner contest with the Dowth Hall runner-up Toast To Thomas.

Winning rider Donoghue said: “He’s a lovely horse. Myself and my brother Keith bought him last May. He had fallen twice previous to that and his jumping wasn’t great. We have done an awful lot of schooling with him and treated him more like a hunter than anything. He loved it out there from the front and jumped well.”

Success in the Goffs four-year-old maiden went the way of the Patrick O’Farrell-trained Supreme Jet, an initial Irish points winner for sire Jet Away.

Supreme Jet, who made all the running and held a ten-length advantage at the halfway point, was guided to victory by Pa King whilst carrying the colours of owner Harry Farrell.

“We knew he was special before Christmas. We ran him down in Tipperary in a schooling bumper and he finished beside Apples Jade. From then on, we were just taking our time with him and getting him ready. He will head to the sales now,” said O’Farrell.

Co. Antrim handler Stuart Crawford got off the mark this season in points when landing The Underwriting Exchange five-year-old geldings’ maiden courtesy of newcomer Largy Debut.

The son of Shirocco was given a patient ride under Ben Crawford and eventually made his way to the head of affairs after jumping the penultimate fence, to come home 13 lengths ahead of the only other finisher Onagatheringstorm.

Winning handler Crawford said: “He’s a beautiful horse. He’s the best that we have ever had – that’s all you need to know.”

Doublubee, who finished third at Aghabullogue in January recorded his second success to date when scoring in the Devenish Nutrition winner-of-two in the hands of Rob James.

Sporting the colours of owner William Powell, the son of Yeats made good headway on the run to the final fence.

From here this sharp-looking sort readily quickened clear with the eventual runner-up before a slick jump at the final fence put the race to bed, as he got the better of Call It Time by four lengths.

“He’s a big, backward type of a horse who is improving the whole time. He might go for another winners’ race. He is a horse who is on the up,” said winning rider Rob James.

The Sean Doyle-trained Timeless Beauty improved from her fourth-placed effort at Inch back in April 2019, when landing the Lougher Stables & ITBA five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

The daughter of Yeats was always towards the head of affairs and once Jamie Scallan asked her to challenge the then leader, Passion View, at the second last, she surged clear on the flat crossing the line with three lengths to spare.

“Jamie Codd rode her in Inch last year for us and he came back in, saying this is a right one but give her plenty of time. He was dead right. I still think she’ll improve plenty from today but going forward. She’s sales bound now,” said Doyle.