Report | Lingstown 08th March 2020

Leading rider Barry O'Neill secured a treble on the afternoon, bringing his total to 40 for the season, with two of these winners coming for his principal supporter, Colin Bowe.

The first leg of O'Neill's treble came aboard the Colin Bowe-trained Gerri Colombe in the Tattersalls Ireland four-year-old maiden.

In the colours of the Milestone Racing Partnership, the son of Saddler Maker proved to be extremely game in what was a nail-biting finish, as he fended off Lakota Warrior by a head.

"He's a good tough horse, he has a nice pedigree. If everything is ok with him in the morning, he'll probably go to the Cheltenham Sale," said Bowe.

O'Neill secured the middle leg of his treble when taking the Padge Berry and Moortown Stud five-year-old mares' maiden aboard the Liam Kenny-trained Brown Bullet.

The Gavan Kinch-owned daughter of Arcadio made much of the running, before keeping on well from the back of the last to secure a three-length victory over the Pierce Power-trained newcomer Without Conviction.

"She probably shouldn't have ever run as a four-year-old. She was big and weak, so we just gave her two runs for some experience. I think there could be a lot more to come from her. She'll probably go to the sales now," said Darragh Brenna, representing winning connections.

O'Neill secured his treble, completing a double for Bowe in the process, when the Maurice O’Brien-owned Sunset West gained a deserved success in the Slaney Foods five-year-old geldings' maiden.

The son of Westerner had gone close on his previous start at Tinahely, and atoned for that defeat, by getting the better of the Donnchadh Doyle-trained Lostcityofgold by three lengths.

"He deserved that, he's been knocking on the door a long time now and has been placed four times. He's for sale now," said Bowe.

The Enda Bolger-trained Stand Up And Fight bounced right back to form when coming out on top of the Hearne Line Marking open.

Run over the popular banks course, the eight-year-old tracked the pace-setting Better B Quick throughout, before pulling clear from the last to account for the admirable veteran by a comfortable six lengths in the hands of Derek O’Connor. 

"We've just been disappointed with him of late. It will be all roads leading to Punchestown now for the La Touche Cup. He seemed to really enjoy the track. It's a lovely track and it's a credit to the committee here," said Bolger of the JP McManus-owned son of Flemensfirth.

O'Connor returned to the winner’s enclosure when he secured the IRE Wel Pallets and INHS Committee six-year-old and upwards' maiden aboard the Sean Aherne-trained Black Samurai.

The Eoin Barry-owned six-year-old son of Black Sam Bellamy jumped and travelled well throughout, before securing an easy eight-length victory over Icy Inferno in second spot.

"He's owned by Eoin Barry, who's over from Boston, he's a great supporter of mine and very good to me. We might go to Cork now on Easter Monday for a point-to-point bumper if the ground is good," said Aherne.

Movethechains stepped up from his Dromahane success over Christmas to double up in a cracking renewal of the Rostoonstown Stud winner-of-two contest.

Carrying the colours of Catherine Cashman, Michael O’Sullivan got the son of Robin Des Camps to the front in the dying strides, as they ended the unbeaten run of the Vincent Devereux-trained Mr Mantilla by a head.

"He's a lovely horse, tough and gallops. He has a bit of class, he has just had a few little problems. We'll try sell him now," said winning handler Paul Cashman.