Session Or Ression sluices home in winners of two
On an afternoon that saw some 106 horses participate on an eight-race card, the Liam Kenny-trained Session Or Ression impressed by sluicing home in the winners of two, a truly-run contest that attracted the biggest field of the day in 19 starters.
Session Or Ression (5/1), an excellent second on his previous start behind Gaspar in the Ballydarragh open on November 14th, travelled sweetly for Jamie Codd and the pair had just moved through to overtake Salsify when the Rodger Sweeney-trained frontrunner fell with Richie Harding at the final fence.
Session Or Ression then came home a comfortable six lengths clear of Tom Walsh’s Springfield Way with this season’s dual scorer Verumontanum a further ten lengths adrift in third spot.
“We have a few options with this fellow now,” related trainer Kenny of Session Or Ression. “It’s possible that he could be sold or else we could go for a hunters chase.”
JD Moore joined forces with Silverfort, Co Tipperary-based handler Denis Prendergast to record a double with the pair kicking off with the recent Lisronagh fourth No Loose Change (7/1) in the fiercely-competitive six-year-old geldings’ maiden.
No Loose Change, owned by Terry Ryan who originally hails from Lisgoold, took up the running on the approach to two out with the winning son of Bob Back accounting for recent Avaune runner-up Mongress Boy by three and a half lengths. A bumper is now on the agenda for No Loose Change, whom Ryan acquired as a foal.
Valentine’O’Seven (7/2) benefited from a well-judged ride from Moore to collect the second division of the closing seven-year-old and upwards maiden.
Valentine’O’Seven, whom Prendergast trains for Steven Barns from Britain, stormed into the lead before the final fence and in a ding-dong tussle with runner-up Dog Barrel Hill the winning son of Fourstars Allstar duly came out on top by a neck in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.
Declan Queally was also in double form, the Cappagh amateur instigating his two-timer aboard Margaret Flynn’s Blackberryblossom (6/1) in the second split of the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.
Whilst a shade deliberate at the second last. Blackberryblossom landed the faster over the final fence and she powered clear on the flat to contain Tango Moll by three parts of a length. Blackberryblossom, a Milan-sired daughter of John Kiely’s former Galway Hurdle heroine Black Queen, is owned by Michael Quilty from Lisfennell outside Dungarvan.
The William O’Doherty-trained ex-track performer Castleguille (5/1) completed Queally’s two-timer by landing a grief-stricken first part of the seven-year-old and upwards maiden.
Castleguille, who failed to reach the frame in ten previous starts, was left in the lead when the challenging Thawmetoesout exited at the third last and the winning bay was always possessing too many aces for runner-up Kilbeg Opera from before the final fence. Castleguille incidentally represents the AGM Syndicate from Ballingarry in west Co Limerick.
John Halley, who started off recent Lexus Chase winner Pandorama in points in 2008, continued his present purple patch when Micks (5/1 – 9/2) vindicated the promise of his fifth-placed debut effort at Dromahane in early-November by capturing the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The quietly-supported Micks made his way to the front for Pa King on the flat to beat Cian Boy by one and a half lengths. A bumper is now next for the winning son of Dr Massini, bred by Halley’s close friend the late Mick Aherne from outside Fethard.
The 25 bookmakers present experienced the best possible start to the afternoon with Batt O’Connell’s 13/2 shot Nevada Knight springing a mild surprise with Damian Murphy in the opening confined hunt maiden. Nevada Knight, owned by O’Connell’s partner Kay Moroney of the Winners Enclosure Bar in Conna in partnership with Pat Williams, made most of the running to easily see off Owenacurra by three lengths.
Owenacurra’s handler Donie Murphy went one better when Serra Nova (9/2), whom he trains for his brother Matt Murphy, stepped up from her recent third-placed effort at Lisronagh on December 11th by landing the first instalment of the mares’ maiden.
A third career winner for 22-year-old James Joyce, who lives just two miles away from this (Leadington) course at Peafield, Serra Nova led from three out to thwart long-time leader Miss Junior by three lengths.
