Afternoon of firsts at Dungarvan

IT was an afternoon of firsts at yesterday’s well-attended Dungarvan Harriers point-to-point meeting at Kilossera as riders’ Paul Kiely, Daragh Howard and Michael Roche all attained their initial career victories.

Cappagh native Paul Kiely (19) opened his account aboard his brother Tom’s Patsys Castle (10/1) in the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Patsys Castle, a creditable fifth on his debut behind Ballybough Pat at Dromahane on New Year’s Eve, took up the running before the final fence and odds-on shot War Correspondent had just moved through when coming to grief here. Patsys Castle them made the best of his way home with the son of Windsor Castle prevailing by a short head from the eyecatching Scuderia in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.

“We bought this horse from my first-cousin Pat Aherne. We’ve no real plans for him, but he’s for sale,” said trainer Kiely of Patsys Castle, sporting the silks of Richard Fitzgerald from Clashmore.

Gorey amateur Daragh Howard (18) excelled when bringing Estelle Kavanagh’s recent Aghabullogue runner-up Nothin To Say (5/2) from well off the pace to collect the first instalment of the six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden. Nothin To Say took up the running before the last and, eased close home, beat Vickys Lass by a neck.

Michael Roche (21) from Foulksmills, got off the mark aboard Daryl Deacon’s grey Miss Palm (7/1) in the second part of this same contest. Ex-track performer Miss Palm made all the running and she stormed clear from the final fence to beat favourite Fade In by an unchallenged 10 lengths. This win was a poignant one for Miss Palm was bred by Roche’s mother Bridget, who died three years ago yesterday.

Perce Rock (9/2) provided his owner/trainer John Halley’s 21-year-old son Josh, a Third Year Product Design student in UL, with his second success of the campaign by landing the fiercely-competitive novice riders’ open. Perce Rock, a former eight-time track winner for Tommy Stack, was left in the lead by the sixth-last fence exit of Nevada Knight and the triumphant British-bred quickened clear in the closing stages to thwart Oscar Delta by two lengths. Perce Rock is likely to continue pointing for the immediate future.

Barry O’Neill was the only individual to partner two winners, the former novice riders’ champion instigating his brace aboard Ivy Rothwell’s More Talk (3/1) in the five-year-old mares’ maiden. More Talk, an own-sister to Idle Talk that’s owned and bred by Miss Rothwell’s father Roland, overcame a penultimate fence error to challenge at the final fence. Attentiontodetail still appeared to hold a slender advantage when falling here as clear form choice More Talk swept clear to defeat favourite She Ranks Me by two and a half lengths.

O’Neill doubled up aboard Thomastown-based handler John Cahill’s impressive newcomer Mr BB (5/1) in the second division of the six-year-old geldings’ maiden. Patiently-ridden, Mr BB eased into the lead before the last and he stayed on well in the closing stages to repel Liam O’Keeffe’s Drivehomeregardles by two lengths with an eight-length break to the third-placed Line View. Mr BB, a graduate of the 2010 Fairyhouse August sale, was providing Cahill with his very first pointing succes.

John Berry’s Angles Hill (7/1) caused a mild upset with Mark Scallan in the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. Angles Hill took up the running before the final fence with the previously twice-raced son of Heron Island duly keeping the promising My Silver Cloud at bay by a neck in the hands of Mark Scallan.

My Silver Cloud’s handler TJ Nagle junior however went one better when his represenative Zardsky justified 5/2 favouritism (from 3/1) in the first division of the six-year-old geldings’ maiden. The Kevin Power ridden Zardsky, placed on his three previous starts, disputed with runner-up Ring Ben after four out with the eventual winner pulling clear on the run to the final fence to dispose of Dinny Spillane’s mount by three lengths.

Former jumps jockey Pat Crowley saddled the mare Bhean An Ghleanna (8/1) to capture the confined hunt maiden in the hands of Pat Collins. Bhean An Ghleanna moved through to join issue with Canis Major before the third last and, with the latter then unseating two out, the Michael Dalton-owned bay had to dig deep on the flat to thwart Daintydavey (finished third in this same race last year) by four lengths.