Stonehall Harriers at Ballysteen, Sunday 29th April

Mitchelstown native Eoin O’ Brien had a day to remember when recording his first career treble at the packed Stonehall Harriers meet at Ballysteen. Eoin got off the mark on the Denis Ahern trained Opera Eile in division two of the five and six-year-olds geldings maiden. The son of Oscar went to the front three out and scored by a comfortable five lengths.  Denis afterwards said: ‘I train this horse for my Uncle Con Hickey, he ran a nice race the last day in Inch, we quietly fancied him today and he is for sale now’.

Eoin was back in the winners enclosure half an hour later when steering Good Night Vienna to victory in the confined maiden for Eric McNamara. The son of High Roller owned by Frank Jarvey of Mellon Stud again went to the front three out to beat Boardwalk Empire by three lengths. Eric said afterwards: ‘he’s a straightforward horse and he did that well, he’ll make a smashing hunter chaser, he will more than likely be sold’.

The concluding leg of the treble came courtesy of Caoimhe’s Delight in the first division of the five-year-old and upwards mares maiden. Trained in Kilworth by Sean O Brien, the winning daughter of Blueprint joined long time leader Mullane’s Bridge at the last to score by a short head in a thrilling finish.  A delighted winning handler afterwards said: ‘this is a nice win, my father John isn’t well at home at the moment and this is a welcome tonic as the mare is home bred’.

Champion point-to-point rider Derek O’Connor made a welcome return to point-to-point action when Gale Force Oscar gave him the first leg of a double. Trained by his brother Paurick, the son of Oscar made it four wins on the trot and his first in open company to take the open lightweight contest. The winner got in a tremendous battle with Carthalawn from three out, but kept finding for his rider before going on to win by one and a half lengths.  Afterwards Paurick said: ‘I am delighted for the owner Mary Moloney, he keeps improving and will probably run in the four miler in Lisronagh next weekend’. 

Derek took the concluding division two of the five-year-old and upwards mare’s maiden on the Terence Leonard trained Dr A Day. The daughter of Dr Massini was always handy and had a length and a half to spare over Ozark Moon. Afterwards Terence said: ‘this is a nice mare, I trained her half sister Vixen Belle to win and this mare will either be sold or go for the mares point-to-point bumper in Tipperary.

John Thomas McNamara rarely leaves Ballysteen without a winner and didn’t disappoint on this occasion when recording a double at the track. Pa Murphy provided his first winner in division one of the five and six-year-old geldings maiden for trainer Michael Hourigan.  The Wizard King gelding benefited from a strong ride to beat Shock N Freaney by four lengths.  The winning handler afterwards said: ‘he is a nice horse who handles good ground and will make a nice summer chaser’.

Castle Fall’s brought up the second leg of John Thomas’s double when taking the winners of one contest for trainer Daniel O Leary. The Windsor Castle gelding had good form on the book and reeled in long time leader Imjoeking to win by five lengths.  Afterwards Daniel said: ‘This is a nice horse and we will either go to the track now or stay point to pointing’.

Nine runners went to post for the opening four-year-old maiden which was won in very impressive fashion by Faugheen.  Rodger Quinlan produced the son of Germany to challenge three out and went on to score by eight lengths for trainer Andrew Slattery. Afterwards Andrew indicated: ‘this is a real good horse who is still very backward, he is only eighty percent fit, but his homework has been very good’.

Opera Eile

Good Night Vienna

Caoimhe’s Delight

Dr A Day

Pa Murphy

Faugheen

Pedigree information courtesy of Weatherbys