Whatever Next another potential star for Murphy

WHATEVER NEXT (6/1) lit up yesterday's Knockanard point-to-point by registering a hugely-impressive debut success in the first division of the five-year-old geldings' maiden.

Ridden by Martin Hickey and trained by John Murphy, who sent out Newmill to win the Grade 2 Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park on Saturday, Whatever Next stormed to the front on the ascent from two out. There was only going to be one outcome from the final fence with Whatever Next beating Rocklyn by three lengths in the familiar Gigginstown House silks.

“This is a nice horse that was bought from Denis Cummins in Wexford as a three-year-old. He will go for a winners’ race next,” reported Murphy of Whatever Next, who traces back to Sonny Somers.

Sixteen-year-old schoolboy Patrick Mangan partnered his first winner aboard his father Jimmy Mangan's Ashstorm (4/1) in the novice riders open lightweight. Ashstorm, a former dual park scorer, surged ahead after two out to repel Never Present by two and a half lengths. Conna amateur Mangan, who secured valuable experience on the pony racing circuit, was having just his fourth ride in points. He is currently a Fourth Year student at Colaiste An Chraoibhin in Fermoy.

Martin Hickey was one of three riders to go away with two winners, the others being Damian Murphy and Paul Tobin. Hickey completed his brace aboard the Paul Moloney-trained Garranedarragh (3/1), who dead-heated with Tararrell (6/1) in the six and seven-year-old geldings' maiden. Seasonal debutant Garranedarragh endeavored to make every post a winning one, but he was joined inside the final 25 yards by Ray Hurley's Tararrell, who was fitted with cheekpieces.

Tararrell's rider Damian Murphy signed off by steering the Philip O'Connor-trained Miss Articulate (7/1) to a gallant all-the-way victory in the second heat of the seven-year-old and upwards mares' maiden. Operating from Seamus Cotter's yard outside Carrigtwohill, O'Connor owns Miss Articulate in partnership with Gary O'Flaherty from Ballyvolane.

Paul Tobin concluded his two-timer aboard the Batty O'Connell-trained Truckers Lady (6/1) in the mares' winners of two. Lisnagar Pet tried to make all and it appeared as if Derek O'Connor's mount had shaken off Truckers Lady at the last. However Truckers Lady, representing O'Connell's partner Kay Moroney, of the Winners Enclosure bar in Conna, rose her effort inside the final 100 yards to score by a neck from Lisnagar Pet.

Pat O'Connor's Ballyduff Bridge (7/2), who displayed promise despite pulling up on his debut at Dungarvan, initiated Tobin's double in the second split of the five-year-old geldings' maiden. Ballyduff Bridge edged past market leader Ballykilglen after the last and the triumphant Humbel-sired gelding, owned by O'Connor's wife Norma, held on grimly to see off Humbel Jim by a head.

Trainer Michael Winters and rider Mikey O'Connor continued their fine run with Hereatlast (3/1) in the first section of the older mares' maiden. Hereatlast, owned by her Freemount-based breeder David Forrest in partnership with his brother Paddy, gave an exhibition of fencing from the front to dismiss Righthandlass by four lengths.