O’Connor beats own record by four
O’Connor won last season’s riders championship with 59 winners, but yesterday’s brace meant that the Galwegian concluded the campaign with an astonishing 63 winners.
Liam Burke provided O’Connor with his initial winner - The Camerengo (5/2) - in the five and six-year-old geldings maiden. Sporting the silks of south Co Kilkenny owner Seamus Murphy, The Camerengo edged ahead after five out. Bealaha Bridge came with a renewed effort at the final fence, but The Camerengo still obliged by three lengths.
“He’s a tough horse, but is still a little green, ” remarked Burke.
“Fair play to Derek, he gave him a smashing ride.”
O’Connor made his initial mount for Willie Mullins a victorious one aboard the well-supported Martatomic (3/1-9/4) in the first division of the seven-year-old and upwards maiden. Always prominent, Martatomic assumed command at the fourth last to put four lengths between himself and Funny Money.
JT McNamara was also in double form. McNamara got off the mark aboard the Eugene O’Sullivan-trained Arctic Times (2/1-6/4) in the four-mile open, a race that was run in extremely foggy conditions. Fitted with cheekpieces, Arctic Times went to the head of affairs before the final fence en route to beating the previous evening’s ladies open winner Penny Out by eight lengths.
Arctic Times, owned by Trevor Hemmings, was becoming the first horse to win the maximum six ‘points’ this season.
McNamara signed-off aboard the Sean Aherne-trained Euro Gypsy (2/1) in the five and six-year-old mares maiden. Euro Gypsy, which was desperately unlucky when finishing second at Barlemy last month, took-up the running on the descent from two out to slam La Carihuela by 15 lengths. Euro Gypsy is owned by Seamus Ronan from Tallow.
Liam Burke also completed a double of his own as Maree Hall (5/1) landed the two and a half mile four-year-old maiden with Richie Harding. Maree Hall carries the colours of Paul Hennigan from Co Galway, who missed the occasion on account of being away holidaying in Spain.
Robert Tyner, absent at Tralee, was on the mark courtesy of Bitsandbobs (5/2) in the ‘winners of two’. Partnered by Thomas Feeney, Bitsandbobs powered clear from two out to outpoint Oulartwick Lad by 15 lengths. A novice chase could now feature for Bitsandbobs, which represents Tyner’s wife Mary.
Daniel Foster (18) from Mullingar rode his fourth career winner aboard the Gerry Lynch-trained mare O’Connell (6/4) in the second part of the closing seven-year-old and upwards maiden. O’Connell was providing Kilreekil, Co Galway-based Michael Mee with his initial winner as an owner.
