Big Jer makes the most of Island’s mishap in geldings’ maiden
During the course of the truncated meeting, three horses either slipped up or unseated going through the gap before the turn-in approaching the final fence. The stewards made the decision to abandon the fixture when Derek O’Connor’s mount Jansboy slipped up going through the gap well before the last in the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden when closing in third on the front pair of Penanag Island and Big Jer.
In the race itself, the Ken Budds-trained Penanag Island held a slight advantage on the inner when making a horrendous final fence blunder which duly unseated his partner and John Halley’s charge Big Jer (4/1 — 7/2), runner-up on his previous start at Athlacca last month, was duly left clear to beat the never-dangerous Heroinahatshell by 15 lengths in the hands of Pa King.
“This is a big, backward type of horse that has needed plenty of time and we will probably bring him back pointing in the autumn,” said owner/trainer Halley of Big Jer, a graduate of last year’s Derby sale.
Paul O’Neill earlier brought Ittimetogo (10/1) , whom he owns himself, from well off the pace to record a stunning debut success in the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden.
Ittimetogo, a daughter of Conna Castle’s sire Germany, made smooth progress from the third last of the 15 obstacles and she eased past long-time leader Mandy Winger after two out to beat Colin Bowe’s charge by two lengths. Ittimetogo, trained by O’Neill’s father John near Quin in Co Clare, is now likely to be aimed at a bumper and she’s a filly that definitely must be followed with interest wherever she goes.
Gordon Elliot’s Hoopy (11/2), a disappointing eighth in the Kinsale four-miler the previous Saturday, benefited from a well-judged frontrunning ride from Derek O’Connnor to win the open lightweight.
The former five-time track scorer Hoopy, who was fitted with cheekpieces and a tongue-tie, led or disputed the running virtually throughout. He stormed clear from two out to dismiss fellow pacesetter River Call, victorious in the winners contest at this same venue five days earlier, by ten lengths in the colours of John Earls with a four-length break to the third-placed Bishop’s Lane. Hoopy is now likely to contest a long-distance handicap chase, more than likely at Cartmel in the not too distant future.
On an afternoon that saw all four favourites getting beaten, the seven bookmakers present had further cause for cheer when Foreverpresenting (3/1) supplemented his recent Necarne maiden victory by capturing the winners of one. The Philip Dempsey-trained Foreverpresenting made smooth progress on the inner to hit the front well before the final fence and the son of Presenting duly powered clear for Jamie Codd to slam Aidan Fogarty’s Commanche Conflict by seven lengths. A beginners chase is now a possibility for Foreverpresenting, representing handler Dempsey’s long-standing patron Denis Cusack.
