2003-04 SEASON REVIEW
A to Z Season
OCTOBER
4th Loughanmore The 2003-04 season gets underway at Loughanmore and both Colin Motherway and Brian Hamilton ride a double at the East Antrim fixture.
11th Loughanmore A week later at the same circuit Gordon Elliot is on target with double, and the Sean Ahearne trained The Wipper makes the long trip from the South worthwhile as he collected the Open.
12th Loughrea The highly promising Bewleys Berry easily accounted for his 11 rivals in the Winners Race at Loughrea, and the Ted Walsh trained, Never Compromise, suffered his only defeat between the flags for the season at the hands of Mr Shush.
Bewleys Berrys display at Loughrea was one of the finest performances of the season
18th Loughbrickland Gordon Elliot’s good start to the season continued, he rode a treble at Loughbrickland, as Sneezy Foster’s Super Gale won the Open.
19th Clonmel Only three riders got on the scoreboard the following day at Clonmel, as Brian Hassett, John Thomas McNamara and Gordon Elliott rode doubles. This was most significant for Elliott who was riding his 100th winner between the flags.
25th Maralin Northern Champion, Brian Hamilton, scored aboard Mike Futters, False Tail, in the Open, at Maralin, and rode a four timer at the meeting,
26th Ballindenisk The fast ground took its toll at Ballindenisk, only 23 runners came under starters orders during the day, and we saw a walk over in the Winners Of 3 contest, when Farasani gave James Hannon his first winner.
26th Templemore The Padge Berry trained Fundamentalist scored his third successive victory in points at Templemore on the same day, little did people realise that less than six months later the Supreme Leader gelding would win the Royal & Sun Alliance Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Less than five months after winning at Templemore Fundamentalist took the Sun Alliance at Cheltenham
NOVEMBER
2nd Ballingarry Never Compromise loses his maiden status under Derek O’Connor, and John Thomas McNamara rides the opening four winners at the meeting.
2nd Dungourney The new track is well received and Paul Cashman both rode and trained a double at the fixture.
2nd Wexford Amorini, Lord Noelie’s half brother won the 4yo Maiden at Wexford, local hander, Padge Berry, scored a double on the day with the exciting Bewleys Berry and Sylvan Shack.
9th Castletown Geoghegan The promising Kid Du Forez collected the Winners contest and Brian Hassett was the rider in form, as the Clare man rode a double at the meeting.
15th Maralin Super Gale kept his unbeaten tag as the Alflora gelding collected his fourth point on the bounce.
16th Dromahane Over Alainn and Stoneyford Ben collected their respective divisions of the 4yo Maiden at Dromahane.
16th Camolin The Padge Berry trained Sylvan Shack scored his fifth victory since March when he took the Open at Wexford.
22nd Comber John Paul Brennan made the long trip to Comber worthwhile as the Wexford trained Mountpill Lad won the Open.
30th Boulta The final day of the Autumn season saw a mammoth card at Boulta, as 190 horses contested the twelve races. Sylvan Shack scored his sixth victory since March, and That’s An Idea, later purchased by JP McManus, impressed when taking a competitive 5yo Geldings Maiden.
30th Roscommon Dermot Desmond’s Never Compromise claimed his third victory of the season at Roscommon, and Gordon Elliot with a treble and Derek O’Connor and John Thomas McNamara both with doubles, were the riders in form.
JANUARY
1st Dromahane Local trainer, Eugene O’Sullivan, scored a treble with Copperpot, Be Telling, and Arctic Times at the traditional New Years Day fixture.
4th Lisgoold Paul Barber’s Get My Drift impressed at Lisgoold when taking his maiden, the Benefical gelding was a €95,000 purchase at the Derby Sale ‘2.
11th Aghabullogue Glengoura trainer, Liam Burke was on target with a three timer, and the Michael Winters’ trained Ardyoul impressed with a bold front running display.
11th Tinahely Former top track horse Champagne Native takes the Open as Supreme Developer’s brother makes a big impression in the younger maiden under Nina Carberry.
11th Askeaton Veteran Dans Your Man shows he is still a force at 12 beating No Messin in the Open
17th Comber was one of a small number of meetings lost to the elements this season
18th Killeagh Ardyoul established herself as one of the leading mares of the season when she spread eagled a descent field at Killeagh, as the Pat Hughes trained Oyster Pearl collected the 5yo Geldings Maiden.
18th Kilfeacle Icy Calm and Liz Lalor get the Bewleys Series underway while Ballymartin Star beats New Prospect in a hot looking younger maiden. Top Mare Just Cassandra takes the one winner by a short margin
25th Dungarvan 12yo Dan’s Your Man, won the Open at Dungarvan for the Cashman family, and the Liam Burke trained, Get My Drift, followed up his Lisgoold maiden with a victory in the Winners of I.
25th Ballon Never Compromise gives Katie Walsh (brother of Champion rider Ruby) her first success in points in the Ladies Open. Subsequent bumper winner Lady Aephyr takes the mares maiden
Katie Walsh scores on her first ride in point to points on Champion Horse Never Compromise at Ballon
25th Nenagh Arctic Times beats Spot The Difference and Rockholm Boy in a top notch Open to complete an O’Sullivan double initiated by Briars Mist.
31st Tyrella One of the most miserable days of the season. Derek O’Connor scores twice for Ian Ferguson while Frankie Dori looks good under Gordon Elliott.
FEBRUARY
1st Carrigtwohill Lord Alphieross got the better of Just Cassandra in Open, Idle Talk impressed when taking his maiden.
8th Tallow Bannow Strand was the talk of the country, the Luso gelding decimated a decent field at Tallow when he won the first 4yo Maiden of the year. It later transpired that the Costello trained horse was purchased by David Johnson, and is to be trained by Martin Pipe for the coming season.
Bannow Strand at Tallow put up the finest performance ever seen by a four year old
8th Naul The new course saw almost one in every three riders report to the doctor. Many riders made the trip to Leopardstown where Never Compromise won the Hunters Chase for Ted Walsh and Derek O’Connor
8th Belharbour John Thomas McNamara elects not to ride Spot The Difference at Leopardstown and the Limerick rider is rewarded by his first ever five timer at the clare fixture including the exciting Dix Villez
14th Comber One of the seasons main talking points was an incident which saw Derek O’Connor receive a ten day ban following what the stewards deemed as careless riding aboard Ian Ferguson’s Forresto in the geldings maiden.
The last fence at Comber moments before Derek O'Connor was about to pick up a ten day suspension
15th Knockanard The Avondhu Hunt’s fixture saw a nice bunch of 5yo’s in action, Missed That got the better of Travino and Slim Pickings, and the other division saw Imperial Sun score from Gallant Approach.
15th Punchestown Another Luso winner of a four year old maiden when Trevor Horgans Shower Of Hail impressed while Padraig Roche (Son of trainer and former flat jockey Christy) has fortune on his side to ride his first winner.
Foot Of the Galtee and Padraig Roche after the rider scored his first winner in points at Punchestown
15th Clonmel Former flat performer Idaho Falls wins the four year old maiden. Liz Doyle takes the Ladies Open with her own Sober Performance
21st Farmaclaffey Knowhere looks well above average as Ballyhale also impresses. Veteran Bluefire gets the biggest cheer of the day in returning to take the Open at thirteen years of age
22nd Kildorrey The Burke/O’Connor team had a frustrating afternoon as several of their leading fancies took crashing falls, however they bounced back by claiming the final two events of the day with Why Tell Tom, and Shannon Lodge.
22nd Tinahely Liz Doyle continues a purple patch that sees Lotto Lolly take the Open as part of a sequence.
22nd Killaloe John Thomas McNamara rides a treble including two top mares in Take Aim (Ladies Cup winner) and Just Cassandra. This is enough to give the Limerick rider his 300th winner between the flags
29th Skibbereen Lady Champion, Liz Doyle, combined with Whyso Mayo to comfortably take the Ladies Open and the Ciaran O’Brien trained Crisp N Clear won the 5yo Geldings Maiden under Derek O’Connor.
MARCH
6th Tyrella Finoel begins his impressive run of wins while Ardaghey blew apart the maiden in field under Robert Wigder.
7th Crecora King Killone, from the Costello yard, took the 2 ½ mile 4yo Maiden, and later joined HenriHenrietta Knight.
7th Lismore Niall Halley aboard The Reverend, having only his third ride in public, dead heated, with Merrion House in the 4yo Maiden.
7th The Pigeons 187 runners contest twelve races on a marathon card. Former top chaser Church Place wins the Open and Peter Fahey registers his first treble.
7th Bennettsbridge Outlaw Princess takes her four year old maiden while Snoopy Loopy begins a sequence that will include a winners race and a bumper within a short period.
13th Maralin Derek O’Connor takes a four timer which includes former top 2m giant chaser Zourito.
14th Cloyne The Thomond O’Mara trained Thedreamstillalive partnered by Damien Murphy won the 4yo Maiden, the rider later went on to record a double aboard Ask Me Not.
14th Bruff Cork trainer, Liam Burke completed a double with Inch Pride and Lord Alphieross.
14th Lingstown The Generals Men gives young M J Murphy his first winner and jumps two fences after the winning post before pulling up.
14th Horse And Jockey Robert Widger’s season begins to pick up speed with a double.
17th Naas Racegoers have an eye on former pointer Fundamentalist as he takes the Sun Alliance Hurdle as local trainer Oliver McKiernan records a treble.
20th Comber Wyle Post comes home clear in the geldings maiden and subsequently realises £65,000 at the Cheltenham sale.
21st Durrow Roger Quinlan takes a double as Native Coral takes maiden in good style
21st Ballyraggett Shining Lights is the brightest prospect of the meeting taking the Mares Maiden by a distance.
21st Liscarroll Liam Burke’s purple patch continued as Alpha Gamble collected the 4yo Maiden and First Down Jets completed the double to give Nadine Forde her first victory between the flags.
21st Belclare A good day for mares as Lovely Present takes the mares maiden and Take Aim takes the winners of one
27th Athlacca A new Banks Course is unveiled by Enda Bolger and the Limerick handler saddles the first two home with his own Good Step beating J P McManus’ Shackleton.
Shackleton (left) and Good Step clear a bank at Athlacca
27th Limavady Finoel takes a two runner Confined race by a distance from Madame Fifi who has been off the track for over three years. David Christies gelding carried 13st 3lbs and was 1/12 making this the heaviest weight and shortest prices winner of the season. J D Moore is in line for ride of the season after steering Gardrum Park to victory in the four mile open.
28th Oldcastle Tony Martin returns to the saddle for one ride this season and with three runner in the race lands a gamble on the Colin Motherway ridden Dun Doire as he diverted punters and other riders attentions!
Former Champion Tony Martin made a surprise return to the saddle at Oldacastle fro one ride this season
28th Athenry Andrew McNamara begins to pick up winners at a faster rate and a treble here was highlighted by the exciting No Guarantees. Laura Hourigan rides her first points winners as her father (Michael’s) former Galway Plate winner Rockholm Boy takes the Ladies Open.
Laura Hourigan rides her first winner on her fathers former Galway Plate winner Rockholm Boy
28th Dundrum Robert Widger continues his good vein of form with a treble including a winner for Equine artist Peter Curling aboard Wicked Nice Fella
28th Bandon The Jimmy Mangan trained See More Bills took the Open and Liam Burke recorded another double.
28th Kilworth Noadibou beat Hang Seng to take the opening contest of the day, the Eugene O’Sullivan trained runner-up later went on to win the Gigginstown House Point-to-Point bumper at the Easter Festival in Fairyhouse.
APRIL
2nd Killeady Uradodo ,closely related to Fundamentalist, became the first 4yo to beat five yr olds. Paul Cashman got injured in a fall and missed the remainder of the season.
3rd Loughbrickland Ballybean becomes the second four year old to beat five year olds when scoring under Colin Motherway on a quality card. Three time winning mare Lovely Native scores her maiden win. Top Open horse Eglish impresses for the second time in a week while News Item takes a very decent older maiden
4th Kilmallock Doubles for James Carroll and John Thomas McNamara but Kevin Power rides the eyecatcher in Rossgrey for Liam Cusack
4th Castletown-Geoghegan Final Orders (1/2 brother to Spirit Leader) impresses as Roger Loughran takes a five year old maiden double for Martin Brassil and Ger O’Leary who train from the one premises on The Curragh
4th Tallanstown Danny Keenan rides his first winner in the opener for James Lambe aboard Dontknocker while Derek Fitzimons also gets off the mark in the last when falling at the last but remounting to win!
4th Ballynoe Mays Delight won the prestigious Gain Mares Final to record her third success of the season. Theatre Knight took his maiden at the first time of asking, and the son of Old Vic later became the most expensive pointer sold at public auction, when knocked down to Howard Johnson for £110,000 at Doncaster.
Ballynoe winner Theatre Knight went on to become the most expensive pointer to be sold at public auction when sold for 110,000 at Doncaster
4th Camolin Colin Motherway rode a treble at the meeting and combined with his boss, Denis Murphy, for a double.
7th Gowran General Montcalm comes home clear in the Tetratema while Bewleys Berry impresses many in the bumper.
General Montcalm and Roger Quinlan scored in the Tetratema
11th Longford Tony Martin and Robert Widger are unstoppable at present and they record a double with two decent sorts in Royal County Star and Oh My Lord.
11th Dromoland Michael Hourigan jnr saddled his first winner as a trainer, For Orla won the Mares Maiden.
11th Stradbally Fourteen year old Lanturn returns from a lengthy absence to take the Open Lightweight under Ross O’Sullivan
12th Loughanmore Derek O’Connor rides unsuccessfully at the meeting and employs a helicopter to get to Fairyhouse for the bumper where Oyster Point disappoints and Hang Seng wins. This form of transport would be employed again however and reap rewards Grasia looks good in the Maiden while Ace Of Spades impresses in the winners race.
Michael O'Leary and Gigginstown rescued the Fairyhouse bumper where his Oscar Brunel could only manage third behind Hang Seng
13th Loughanmore Derek O’Connor returns to the Northern venue and is most impressed by Laharna who looks a top four year old in beating older horses. Eglish decimates another Open field while Holey Moley returns from an absence in the winners race.
13th Fairyhouse Just Cassandra takes the Joseph O'Reilly by beating Foot Of The Galtee.
14th Inch The mid-week meeting had eleven races on offer Outlaw Princess became the first 4yo mare in living memory to beat her older rivals in the Winners of I.
The four year old Outlaw Princess was the only youngster who won twice and beat older horses to do so
17th Maralin Galero is another nice Overbury to win on the Northern circuit. John Thomas McNamara rides his only winner on the Northern circuit while Derek O’Connor cancels it out and goes one better with a double as the championship race hots up
18th Doneraile Classic Approach gave Luso another 4yo winner, the other division went to the Paul Cahman trained, Happy Shopper, and the Presenting gelding later joined Nicky Henderson.
18th Ward Union Kettysjames and Another Biffo come home a distance clear in the maidens as it is also a good day for older horses. The Tollah (12yo) and Montana Glen (11yo) also win at the meeting.
25th Ballysteen Philip Fenton donned his trainers cap to record a treble at the meeting, including Simon owned by Mercy Rimell, wife of the legendary Fred Rimell
25th Summerhill English rider Chris Gordon takes a winner at the meeting aboard Simon Tindall’s Letsmoveon while two nice four year olds emerge in Kranji and Oran Climate
25th Butlerstown Both divisions of the 4yo Maiden went to Wexford trainers, Paddy Day and Seamus Neville, with Templetown Hill and Brideswell Boy respectively.
28th Punchestown Just Cassandra takes the Champion Hunter Chase as General Montcalm exits at the last.
Just Cassandra won the Joseph O'Reilly and Champion Hunter Chase
MAY
1st Maralin ITBA Mares Final sees a tight finish with Shantilly Way and Ups And Downs dead heat in a tight finish.
2nd Dromahane Declan Queally, brother of Flat jockey, Tom, collected with his first ride in a point, Poor Witness, owned by his uncle, and trained by his father won the Winners contest.
2nd Eyrecourt A new course unveiled by the East Galways Novice riders Andrew McNamara and Robbie Moran fight out a tight finish in the mares maiden with Moran getting the upper hand by the shortest of margins but his season was about to turn.
7th Necarne Final Northern meeting. Identical Twins Jennifer and Jacqueline Kidd fight out a tight finish in the Ladies Open with Jennifer coming out in top by a head.
Identical twins Jennifer (left) and Jackie fought out a close finish at Necarne with 'a head' the judges verdict in favour of Jennifer
8th Necarne Brian Hamilton and Derek O’Connor fight out the Northern title. One race seems to decide the title as Hamilton shades it on Right Direction leaving him in front by one winner.
9th Stradbally Andrew McNamara takes the Open on Keeponthesunnyside’s debut in points.
9th Ballindenisk The well bred Debris, trained by Pat Doyle, gave Derek O’Connor another winner in his quest for the Riders Championship.
9th Clonmel Roger Quinlan takes a treble at the fixture as Robert Widger scores on the promising Rebel Flyer.
14th Wexford Robbie Moran sees his luck going the wrong direction as his winner on Ballykilthy is disqualified after he loses a lead bag on the run in and weighs in light.Liz Doyle win the Ladies Open and in doing so wins the Bewleys Series and seals her place at the top of the Ladies title. This is also the final meeting of the Eastern Circuit where Colin Motherway is crowned champion for the first time.
16th Bartlemy Finoel made the five hundred mile round trip to Bartlemy, and the David Christie trained 12yo became the first horse in recent times to collect six points in a season.
16th Sligo The final meeting of the Western series where John Thomas McNamara is crowned Champion but is far enough ahead not to need to ride at the meeting. Gordon Elliott rides a double and will finish the season in third overall and the rider with the highest number of wins to win no award!
23rd Ballingarry Another top class riding performance and treble for Robert Widger. Two for Joe Crowley and one for Liz Doyle aboard the Wexford winner Good Old Days.
23rd Dromahane Brendan O’Sullivan retired from the saddle, following Jo’s Boutique’s victory in the Mares Open
30th Clonakilty Minister for Agriculture, Joe Walsh, officiated as judge at the meeting. The Novice Riders Championship came alive as Andrew McNamara’s treble meant he was only one behind the joint leaders, Robbie Moran and Colman Sweeney.
5th Kinsale Champion elect Derek O’Connor rode his 59th winner of the season to establish a new record. Andrew McNamara’s good run continued as the Limerick man rode the final two winners of the evening.
6th Kinsale Andrew McNamara rode a treble on the day to claim the Novice title, two ahead of long time leader, Robbie Moran and Colman Sweeney. The final race of the season went to the Pat Kelly trained, King Maxie.
