Report | Lisronagh 28th Oct 17

The Aidan Fitzgerald-trained Daylight Katie, having fallen at half-way on her sole start last term at Inch, came from off the pace under a confident Richie Deegan to beat long-time leader Three Thirds by four lengths in the Goffs four-year-old mares’ maiden.

Daylight Katie is owned by Avril Barry, a Borris-based neighbour of the winning handler. Fitzgerald said:”I’m delighted for Avril and the previous winner that I had for her was Treaty Girl at Curraheen two years ago. This filly was bought at the Goffs Land Rover sale last year and she will now go to the sales at Cheltenham next month. “

The newcomer Lust For Glory was well-touted beforehand in the second division of the Goffs four-year-old mares’ maiden and the Denis Murphy-owned/trained daughter of Getaway vindicated the high regard in which she’s clearly held by connections as she recorded an authoritative success in the hands of Jamie Codd.

Lust For Glory always impressed with the manner in which she travelled and she stormed through to pick up the running before the final fence. She then readily quickened clear on the flat to beat Cash Me Outside in a race that saw Co Wexford-trained runners occupy the first five placings.

“She got a bit weak last season and we left her alone as she was always such a nice sort. She has repaid us now, “said Murphy, who disclosed that Lust For Glory is now likely to be offered for sale at Cheltenham in just over two weeks’ time on November 17th.

Vincent Halley, who saddled Carrigready to win over hurdles at Thurles two days earlier, sent out Getaway Trump to record a bloodless success in the hands of John Barry in the Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham & Ascot Sales four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Getaway Trump, who displayed clear signs of talent on his two outings in the spring, made smooth progress from the rear of mid-division to overtake Arahecan after three out. There was only going to be one outcome from here with the winning son of Getaway duly beating the promising Arahecan by nine lengths.

Halley remarked of Getaway Trump, owned by Sarah Keane in partnership with his father Lar: ”He is a horse that was bought at the Goffs Land Rover sale last year and he has loads of gears. He will now go to the sales at Cheltenham. “

Jamie Codd completed a double here aboard Pat Doyle’s newcomer Danny Kirwan in the second division of the Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham & Ascot Sales four-year-old geldings’ maiden and there’s no denying that the Drinagh amateur will seldom ride an easier winner for the triumphant son of Scorpion, a half-brother to Mark Cahill’s useful handicap hurdler Pilgrim Way, won literally doing handstands.

Danny Kirwan, who really took the eye in the preliminaries, disputed the running with Cooldine Bog until going for home from three out. The result wasn’t in the slightest doubt from there with Danny Kirwan storming clear to beat Risky Gold by an unchallenged 11 lengths.

“He is potentially the best four-year-old that I have ever trained, “was handler Doyle’s post-race comment of Danny Kirwan, who is called after a centurion of the same name that lives in owner Roddy O’Byrne’s home village of Kilmacthomas.

It was incidentally O’Byrne’s nephew Timmy O’Byrne that bought Danny Kirwan, a late-April foal, for €19, 000 at the 2016 Goffs Land Rover sale.

Owner/trainer/breeder Jim Barry from nearby Fethard sent out Defacto Lady to win the Mikey Ryans Bar & Kitchen five-year-old mares’ maiden under Liz Lalor. Defacto Lady, a fine fifth to the subsequent British track-placed Rosie McQueen at Boulta last November, swept past the frontrunning Yellow Dockets before the final fence to score by three lengths with the pair being the only finishers from the five runners that set out.

Barry indicated that Defacto Lady, the only horse that he currently has in harness, will now be primed for a tilt at a winner’s race.

This somewhat grief-stricken event served up a dramatic finish as Louis Archdeacon’s seasonal debutant Duhallow Tornado came from an unlikely looking position with Eoin O’Brien to record a last-gasp success over Well Tom in the Sherry Fitzgerald Country Homes, Farms & Estates five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The dual runner-up Well Tom led from half-way until he was joined from two out by Ballyegan Warrior.

Indeed, the last-named had just gone to the front and he appeared to be travelling the stronger when cruelly falling at the final fence. Well Tom was then left in the lead, but Duhallow Tornado, who was only sixth after three out, closed with every stride inside the final 50 yards and he led quite literally on the line to oblige by a neck in the familiar colour of Joe ‘Frog’ O’Sullivan.

Unfortunately, the expected duel between Chapter Two and Presentingprincess failed to materialise in Athassel House Stud & Thomastown Castle Training Stables Mares Open, as the latter exited at the first fence.

Chapter Two, a fine third on her return behind A Decent Excuse in the Castletown-Geoghegan open almost three weeks earlier, moved through to dispute from the fourth fence and she gamely asserted between the final two obstacles to contain Bloodstream by six lengths with regular partner Johnny King.

“I’m delighted and Johnny [King] said that she won very easily, “said Co Kildare-based owner/trainer Tom Shaw. “She seems to love this soft to heavy ground and she stays forever. I don’t quite know where we will go from here, we will see. “

Handler Aengus King and rider Eoin Mahon, out of luck earlier with Well Tom, didn’t leave empty-handed for they combined to win closing contest the Hotel Minella six-year-old-and-upwards maiden for novice riders with ex-track performer Braize.

A French-bred that was having just a second start for King, Braize made virtually all the running and he gave a polished jumping display on-route to asserting from two out to inflict a five-length defeat on Orchard Hill.

“I got this horse in February and it’s great that he has won today, “said King. “I’m really delighted for his owner Mike Neville, who is a good friend of mine from Castleconnell as this is his very first winner.”