It was a red-letter-day for novice rider Jack Hendrick who partnered his first career success in the the Veterinary Hospital five and six-year-old mares’ maiden aboard Would You Bypass.
The daughter of Vinnie Roe was getting off the mark at the sixth time of asking, having been unlucky to come to grief on a number of her previous starts.
Owned by the Monbeg Farm Racing Partnership, the five-year-old was given a patient ride before easing 12 lengths clear of Maine Danger in the closing stages.
The bay mare is trained by Cormac Doyle and his brother Gearoid was present to say: “She is versatile enough on the ground and will go for a winners’ now. Jack will keep the ride on her, he is with Cormac full time and is a great worker.”
The opening Mill House Veterinary, WMQS & Bastion four-year-old maiden went the way of the Ellen Doyle-trained On My Wish List, who ran out an impressive 12-length winner.
Sporting the increasingly familiar Baltimore Stables Syndicate colours, the Court Cave gelding was always to the fore of proceedings, before quickening up in smart fashion to see-off Flaming Glory, who filled the runner-up berth.
The four-year-old was getting off the mark at the third time of asking, having finished second at this venue back in October and was also providing rider Luke Murphy with the opening leg of a double.
“We were coming here confident. He jumps, gallops and stays all day in fairness to him and he will go to the sales now,” said Doyle of the winner, who was a €42,000 store purchase.
Ballinasilla showed no ill effects from his penultimate fences tumble at Ballinaboola seven days earlier, to take the Doran W O’Toole Solicitors winner of two in the colours of Peter Murphy.
A winner at Curraghmore last spring, the six-year-old was providing rider Luke Murphy with the concluding leg of his double.
Bernie Murphy’s charge scored by three lengths, having raced up with the pace throughout, with No More Monkey’s coming home back in second.
The successful handler said: “We might go down the banks route and aim for the Ladies Cup now. He had got a couple of letters to his name that he didn’t deserve, so it’s great to get another win.”
The Sheridan - Colohan Insurance Brokers five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden saw No Hidden Charges gain a long overdue success in the hands of James Walsh.
Trained in Wexford by John Paul Brennan, the five-year-old was having his ninth start, however he was terribly unlucky not to get off the mark on just his second start last April, as he fell when clear at the last around Courtown.
Owned by the handlers’ wife, the Scorpion gelding made most of the running before sticking gamely to his task in the home straight, fending off a challenge from Reallyradical by two lengths.
“He lost his way after Courtown, We did a lot of schooling with him and he is back in form now. We will sell him and I think he will win plenty of races in England,” said the winning handler.
With only three runners facing the starter, the T Swaine and Sons Ltd. & Kavanagh Tarmac Ltd open turned into somewhat of a procession as odd-on favourite Kruzhlinin came home a distance clear of the only other finisher, Loggan Lady.
Owned by Camilla Sharples, who unfortunately was not on hand to witness the success as she was working at Punchestown for Gordon Elliott, who happens not only to be her boss, but also the handler of the winning 11 year-old.
Ridden by Barry O’Neill, the straightforward sort stalked the leaders for much of the contest before forging clear in the closing stages to record a facile success.
“He won very well there, but it probably wasn’t much of a race. We will look for another open for him in about two weeks’ time,” said Simon McGonagle.
Moira McElligott enjoyed her first winner since the 2011/12 season in The Red Rider & Peaky Bennett older maiden for novice riders, aboard Bog Lane Baby who is owned and trained by the winning riders’ husband, Willie Murphy.
The seven-year-old was following up on a recent third placed effort at The Pigeons in October.
Never too far away from the pace, the daughter of Olden Time had to battle hard in the home straight to get the better of Getaway Home by a neck.
Jim Murphy, brother of the handler said: “She did it well there. We will keep it low-key for the moment and look for a mares’ winner of one race for her next.”
