Report | Dromahane 14th April 2019

Cormac Doyle sent out his third individual  four-year-old winner of the season when Bobhopeornohope posted a taking  Goffs Punchestown Sale four-year-old maiden.

The Westerner gelding always travelled well at the head of affairs for Shane O'Rourke. He seemed to have a battle on his plate when Black Gerry edged past after two-out. Bobhopeornohope however is a teak-tough sort for he surged back to the front over 50 yards out to defeat Black Gerry by a length and a half.

"He's a horse that will grow more and he has a nice turn of foot. He will now go to some of the sales," said  Doyle. 

Tattersalls Ireland five and six-year-old mares’ maiden saw Robert Tyner strike with his only runner at the meeting when Thoor Castle posted an authoritative success in the hands of  Declan Queally.

The mare bounced back from a below-par effort at Knockanard in February, having made a most respectable debut when coming fifth at Kilfeacle in January, by leading from the fifth fence and she was clearly travelling best in front from two-out.

With the chasing Shallow Run erring at the final fence when beaten at the time, this paved the way for the newcomer Pellady to ultimately finish second as Thoor Castle returned with two and a half lengths in hand.

"She had a lovely run the first day when she finished fifth at Kilfeacle in January, but she then disappointed when pulling up in Knockanard and my horses were sick for a while after that.

"She's a lovely mare, but I'm not sure what future plans will be for her,” said Tyner of the Martin Cullinane-owned winner. 

Conna-based handler Eamonn Gallagher struck with Idas Boy in the 10-runner Coolmore five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The Dubai Destination-sired winner who made a pleasing career debut despite pulling up in the Knockanard maiden won by Notice To Close almost two months earlier, was bounced out at the head of affairs by James Hannon and he was in a prominent position throughout. Idas Boy was clearly on top from three-out and the towering chestnut forged clear from the penultimate obstacle to account for Belclare runner-up Jimmil by eight lengths.

"I broke him as a three-year-old, but he has just needed time to mature. We said that we would let him take his chance here when the rain came overnight and he will go for a bumper now, provided that's he's not sold,” said Gallagher of Idas Boy, owned by Dave Dineen and his son Paul from Ballynoe.

Larry Buckley and Jackie Beirne-owned Maifitz's Madonna has developed into a prolific  points performer this season and Gerry Kelleher's charge supplemented recent victories at Turtulla and Durrow by recording a battling success under Michael O'Sullivan in the Committee mares’ winner of two.

The six-year-old tracked the front running pair of Whatsdastory and Back To Basics in third spot until moving through to lead after four-out. The eventual winner and favourite Whatsdastory pulled clear from two-out and there was then very little to separate the pair until the ex-park performer got on top in the closing  stages to beat the market-leader by two lengths.

"She's an improving mare and the plan now is that she will go to Cork for the mares' hunters chase on Easter Monday," said handler Kelleher.

The Harry Kelly-trained 11-year-old Blacklough rolled back the years by destroying the opposition under 20-year-old Fethard native Andrew Phelan, a third year auctioneering student at DIT who was recording his second points success.

Blacklough, who gave an exhibition of fencing, disputed the running with Drawn N Drank until edging into a narrow advantage from four-out.

If some thought that Blacklough would come back to his field, they were incorrect as the former four-time track winner extended his lead before the second  last and he duly stormed clear to account for B L Swagger by six lengths.

"We use this fellow as our lead horse at home. It's great to give Andrew a winner, he gave him a fabulous ride and we might run him in another open now, ” said Kelly of his wife Gemma O'Mahoney's charge.

The Committee adjacent maiden saw Louis Archdeacon sent out Barrack Hill, owned by his long-standing patrons' Joe and Kathlen O'Callaghan, to record a deserved success under Mikey O'Connor in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.

The seven-year-old, who finished third on two previous occasions, was another to benefit from front running tactics. Although closely pressed from after four-out, Barrack Hill  maintained a narrow advantage from the second last and he then held on  grimly in the closing stages to deny the staying-on newcomer Miss Zip by  three parts of a length.

"It's great to get a winner for Joe and Kathleen. We will now run in the €5,000 winners race at the Doneraile Harriers meeting here at Dromahane in two weeks’ time next,” said
Archdeacon.