Battling success for Kaitlin’s Fancy
The concluding leg of a three-timer for Derek O’Connor, the 11-year-old Kaitlin’s Fancy (7/1) arrived to challenge House Of Bourbon on the incline to the final of the 21 obstacles. The victorious daughter of Luso then edged ahead on the flat to contain the ex-British House Of Bourbon by a half-length in the colours of Lisgoold owner Donal Barry with a six-length to the third-placed Risk It Paddy.
“I’m delighted as that’s her third win and we will probably now go for the mares’ winners race with her at Necarne in Co Fermanagh in two weeks time,” said trainer Aherne.
O’Connor instigated his hat-trick aboard Liam Burke’s newcomer Pirates Cay (5/2) in the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. Pirates Cay, owned by Mrs Una Connors, arrived full of running to lead from the second last with the son of Black Sam Bellamy duly defeating Whole Nine Yards by five lengths in the style of a considerably above-average sort.
The Galwegian’s remaining success came aboard newcomer Dunloughin (5/2 – 2/1), a first points winner for Dualla-based handler Hillary McLoughlin, in the second division of the six-year-old geldings’ maiden. The towering Dunloughin, owned by Mallow-born professional jockey Martin Ferris, assumed command at the final fence to beat Green Wizard by four lengths.
The current southern championship leader Declan Queally joined forces with owner/trainer Edmond Kent to collect the first instalment of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden with Nancys Call (5/1), who survived a second-last fence error to dismiss Tom Kiely’s Chanceofa Lifetime.
Bartlemy trainer Garrett Ahern was on the mark with Blueside Boy (8/1) who put his experience to good use by giving a superb display of fencing to make all the running with the talented Larry Murphy in the first part of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden whilst the Joe Ryan-trained newcomer Turnandgo (5/1) looked well above-average when forging clear from the third last with JT McNamara to land the second split of this same opening contest.
Padge Berry’s Iberico (3/1) overcame a final fence blunder with 19-year-old Tom Bennett from Duncormick to capture the first division of the six-year-old geldings’ maiden and ‘Corky’ Carroll continued his stellar campaign by returning to the coveted number one slot aboard Jack Bennett’s homebred Epona’s Song (4/1) in the five-year-old mares’ maiden.
