Daire McConville had a day to remember on Saturday when he recorded a treble at his local track in Farmacaffley. The 20-year-old from Portadown opened his account aboard the Marshal Watson-trained He Knows My Name in The Mullen Family Confined Hunt Winners race.
With only one other rival to race alongside, the daughter of Kayf Tara who was racing in the colours of Watsons mother Claire made all and quickened clear from the penultimate fence to win by 25 lengths over Accordingtojohnny.
Winning handler Watson commented “It was disappointing that only two horses went to post but it’s good to win the race again. She is a nice mare and had a good race last time in Killeagh when third. She could head for a mares’ winners race next and possibly to the Cork Mares hunter chase over Easter.”
McConville and Watson proved to be a partnership to follow as they registered their second winner of the afternoon in the WHR Accountants Winners Of Two with Celtic Thunder. The nine-year-old carried the colours of his winning rider and was produced to make a challenge before the final fence where he stayed on well and held onto the victory by a head over Thunderosa. A dual winner in 2015, the son of Definite Article was having his fifth start this season.
The winning handler who trains in Killylea outside Armagh reported; “He is a horse with lots of ability, but he has had his fair share of problems. Daire knows the horse and knew to keep after him the whole way; he gave him a great ride. I’m delighted with that and we will keep him at this level or go for a maiden hunter chase.”
The winning handler who trains in Killylea outside Armagh reported; “He is a horse with lots of ability, but he has had his fair share of problems. Daire knows the horse and knew to keep after him the whole way; he gave him a great ride. I’m delighted with that and we will keep him at this level or go for a maiden hunter chase.”
Local success continued in the Philip White Tyres six-year-old-and-upwards geldings’ maiden with the Alan Wells-trained Longtymegone losing his maiden tag in the hands of Daire McConville who also owned the eight-year-old on what was his sixth start this season.
Ridden in mid-division for much of the race the son of Portrait Gallery made steady progress into the race and made a challenge to dispute the lead at the last where he battled gamely to win by three lengths over Cosmic Flight.
Winning rider McConville commented; “He is a nice horse and was unlucky not to have collected before now. He has had problems with his jumping before, but we have done a lot of work with that. He really stayed on well and could head for a winners’ race now.”
Ridden in mid-division for much of the race the son of Portrait Gallery made steady progress into the race and made a challenge to dispute the lead at the last where he battled gamely to win by three lengths over Cosmic Flight.
Winning rider McConville commented; “He is a nice horse and was unlucky not to have collected before now. He has had problems with his jumping before, but we have done a lot of work with that. He really stayed on well and could head for a winners’ race now.”
Pat Fahy continued his current good form as Quinnsborotemptress got her head in front in the Donnelly Bros, Dungannon five-year-old-and-upwards mares’ maiden. Second at Kirkistown two weeks ago, the Richie Deegan ridden winner progressed to lead before the last and quickened clear on the run-in to win by 10 lengths over Drumconnor Girl. Carrying the colours of Natalie Fahy, the daughter of Gamut who is a half-sister to track winners Oscar Vespasian and Troy Tempest was second in a Wexford bumper two years ago.
Winning handler Pat Fahy reported; “She was going well at Tyrella when falling and came up against a very good mare when second at Kirkistown in a very fast race. She has been jumping and working very well at home and was second in a bumper in Wexford. We will have a think about what to do with her next.”
Winning handler Pat Fahy reported; “She was going well at Tyrella when falling and came up against a very good mare when second at Kirkistown in a very fast race. She has been jumping and working very well at home and was second in a bumper in Wexford. We will have a think about what to do with her next.”
The Armagh Construction Ltd Open saw another tight finish with Clondaw Frisby coming out on top over Vinnie Luck for the Jerry Cosgrave yard. Ridden by Mark O’Hare, the son of Flemensfirth who was second in the same race last year, was always prominent and progressed to lead at the last where he battled gamely on the run-in to register his sixth win in the colours of Carnglave Racing.
“He really runs well fresh and was on the button today. Mark said he felt great. He jumped better today and put in a great gutsy performance. We have three-weeks now to head for the hunter chase at Down Royal on Saint Patrick’s Day”, reported his winning handler Cosgrave.
“He really runs well fresh and was on the button today. Mark said he felt great. He jumped better today and put in a great gutsy performance. We have three-weeks now to head for the hunter chase at Down Royal on Saint Patrick’s Day”, reported his winning handler Cosgrave.
The closest finish of the day came in the Markethill Livestock and Farm Sales five-year-old geldings’ maiden with the judge declaring a dead-heat between the Colin McKeever-trained favourite Ballyart and Liam Lennon’s School Lane. The Wilson Dennison-owned Ballyart under Derek O’Connor disputed for much of the contest with the Declan Lavery-partnered School Lane. Both runners jumped the final fence together and were locked in a battle on the run-in.
“He has improved with every run and he has always stayed very well. The stiff course suited him, and he could develop into a nice big staying chaser. Derek (O’Connor) said he got his head in front on the run-in, but he idled a bit when he got to the front. He will be sold now”. stated McKeever.
Training his first winner of the season, Newry based Lennon remarked “He has really improved with time being by Winged Love. He had a great run at Loughbrickland in soft conditions and I thought he would go very well today. Declan (Lavery) gave him a lovely ride from the front. He will head to the sales now”.
