Image © Healy Racing
Benny Walsh and his wife Jenny, were celebrating a return to form for their Crossgales Stables, with a notable double at Lisronagh last weekend proving to be further evidence that their yard has come through a quieter spell during the winter months.
“It had been a quiet few months and we couldn’t really put our finger on why,” said Jenny Walsh. “The horses just weren’t firing, but thankfully they’ve come right now and are running well again.”
The first success of the afternoon came with Sarahs Lawn, a daughter of Yeats, who stepped forward from her debut Borris House fourth to win division two of the four-year-old mares’ maiden in decisive fashion under Barry Stone, a nephew of the winning handler.
“She’s not overly big and the ground had gone a bit soft for her at Borris,” she explained.
“We always thought she had plenty of ability and even though she ran well there, she wasn’t 100 percent on the day. We felt Lisronagh would suit her much better as she has plenty of speed and she’s always worked well.”
That proved the case, with the mare showing marked improvement, something that had already been evident at home.
“She had a couple of weeks off and really came on. Her coat turned inside out and her whole health improved,” she added.
Donning Jenny’s own colours, the mare also carries a name with local significance.
“A neighbour of ours, Peter Kehoe, named her. The land where our gallop came from him and it was called Sarahs Lawn, so that’s where the name came from.”
Initially considered as a possible track prospect, the mare is now likely to be offered for sale, with strong interest already having been shown in her
The Crossgales Stables team went on to complete the double later on the card when Northern Singer landed the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden in emphatic fashion.
Making all under Stone, she quickly had her rivals in trouble and drew right away to score by a wide margin, despite being sent off at 6/1.
Making all under Stone, she quickly had her rivals in trouble and drew right away to score by a wide margin, despite being sent off at 6/1.
“We couldn’t believe she was the outsider. We don’t back them ourselves, but she had the form and we were hopeful she’d run a big race.”
That victory was particularly significant as it provided the yard with their first winner for owner-breeder Richard Busher, a neighbour, good friend and long-time supporter.
“We’ve had a few placed horses for Richard, but that’s our first winner for him, which is great for us all.”
The Crossgales team also had further promise to celebrate when Clear The Way fell at the last in division one of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden when in contention.
“He was going to be second, so it was still a big run,” Walsh said. “At least he has a bit of form now and he’ll go to the sales as well.”
Both winners, along with the unlucky faller Clear The Way, are likely to be aimed towards the Goffs UK Doncaster sale next month, a venue that has proved a fruitful outlet for the yard in the past.
Lisronagh has been a particularly happy hunting ground for Walsh husband and wife team, who have now trained five individual winners at the venue, including Bill Joyce, who went on to land the Grade 2 Betfair Winter Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown for Jonjo and A J O’Neill.
Benny Walsh is a former amateur rider with over 120 winners, and having out his first runners as a handler during the 2016/17 season, the roll of honour of Crossgales graduates continues to grow.
Doujadou, who made a big impression when winning his maiden at Lingstown in November, was subsequently sold privately to Rebecca Curtis and has since gone on to win at Ffos Las recently, providing Sean Bowen with his 100th winner at the track.
Jenny Walsh noted that Doujadou was not the first horse to join that yard, with The Boola Boss having previously been sold to the same connections.
“She bought The Boola Boss off us first, so we were able to recommend Doujadou to her after that,” she said.
There is also a runner to look forward to this week, with the yard set to be represented in Thursday’s La Touche Cup Cross Country Steeplechase at Punchestown, where Benny The Duke is set to line up.
“It’ll be a nice day out,” she said. “You’d be hoping he could run a nice race, but we’re just looking forward to it.”
With a number of younger horses already turned out and a handful still to run, attention will soon switch towards the store sales, while the yard may also have a small number of runners on the track over the summer.
“It’s very much a team effort,” she added. “My mum Ann and dad Frank are always helping out with the kids, and dad still does plenty of the mucking out as well.”
The yard itself is supported by a small but well-established team, with Aaron Bogen and Jessica Murphy playing key roles in the day-to-day running of the operation, while Benny’s nephew Barry Stone rides plenty of work, does most of the schooling and partners many of the yard’s runners.
Their 14-year-old daughter Lily is also becoming more involved around the yard alongside her eventing commitments, while younger daughter Belle is also keen.
“Lily is doing a lot around the yard now and she’s mad into it,” she said.
“She’s very busy with her eventing and show jumping as well, but she’s taking over a lot of what I used to do, so I’ve been able to step back a bit.”
With two four-year-olds, Hips And Lipstick and Jet Prime entered over the weekend, there may yet be more winners to come for the Crossgales team before the season ends.
With two four-year-olds, Hips And Lipstick and Jet Prime entered over the weekend, there may yet be more winners to come for the Crossgales team before the season ends.
