Report | Tinahely 17th November 2019

Jamie Codd who is synonymous with Tinahely, having previously ridden six winners in a single day at the Wicklow venue, was once again back in the winner’s enclosure having completed a treble on the day.

Codd’s first winner of the afternoon came courtesy of the Denis Murphy-handled Corran Cross who ran out a two-length winner of the T. Swaine & Sons Ltd four-year-old maiden.
The son of Doyen showed a good turn of foot when quickening clear in the closing stages to deny the locally trained Junior Rattler who had led the field to the final fence.
A delighted winning handler Denis Murphy said: “We have been hitting the placepots lately in the four-year-old’s, so it was great to get one. 
“They went a good gallop there and I’d imagine the race will work out well as there was plenty of form horses in it.
“We don’t have him that long, he only came to me in July and he is improving all of the time. He will go to the sales next.”

Favourite backers were rewarded in the Doran W. O’Toole & Company Solicitors five and six-year-old mares’ maiden with Not May justifying her short price when running out an easy ten-length winner.
The Hugh Finegan trained mare had looked a likely winner at Dowth Hall last month before unseating her rider at the final fence. 
“She was very unlucky the last day at Dowth when unseating, but we might go to the track next with her next,” said her winning handler.
“We bred her ourselves, she is from the family of Harbour Pilot.  Unfortunately we lost the mare but have a four-year-old filly out of Golden Lariat left.”

Codd registered his third winner of the afternoon in the concluding Golden Anchor, Castletown winner-of-two contest aboard Honest Exchange, who was also providing his handler Denis Murphy with a double on the day.
The Pat Coffey-owned gelding picked up well in the closing stages to see off the rallying pace-setter Coach Road by six lengths.
Denis Murphy said: “I was a little surprised he was beaten at Kinsale last time. He has improved so much over the summer. This is the first time we have had a clear run with him and he did it very well. 
“He is just an improving sort.  I’d imagine Pat (Coffey) will sell him but if he wanted to hold on to him, I certainly wouldn’t mind.”

The Colin Bowe-trained Whitechurch lived up to the promise he had shown on his previous two starts with a comprehensive six-length victory in the Mervyn Sunderland five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden.
“He is a lovely type, he had a lovely first run and if I’m honest we ran him back too quickly.  He might for a winners race next,” said Bowe.
“He has a good page and his half-brother Battle Of Actium runs today in the bumper at Punchestown.”

The feature race on the card, the Kavanagh Tarmac and C&C Building Providers Open Lightweight went the way of track recruit Val De Ferbet in the hands of Mark O’Hare.
The Andrew Heffernan-owned gelding rallied well in the closing stages to get back up to lead close home and deny Northern raider Marinero by half-a-length.
Winning handler Andrew McNamara said: “I am just delighted to have him back in good form.  He lost his way a little bit last season.
“We will discuss our plans now as regards to where to go next but I’d imagine we will stick to open lightweights for the meantime.  He is a lovely genuine sort at home and it’s great to have him.”

Feagreen Native from the Peter McCreery stable ran out a 16-length winner of the Woodenbridge Hotel & Lodge and Mill House Veterinary six-year-old and upwards maiden for novice riders.
The six-year-old son of Double Eclipse was returning to the pointing field having enjoyed a brief spell under rules and it was him return victorious under Robbie Jackson.
Winning handler Peter McCreery said: “Robbie gave him a brilliant ride, he was very patient and they all just stopped in front of him. 
“He is owned by my neighbour Martin McGuane, he bought this fellow for his son Michael who is due to get his jockeys licence in March.”