Well-touted Gunner Fifteen makes stunning debut in geldings maiden
On an afternoon that saw current championship leader Jamie Codd sustain a suspected fractured wrist in a second-fence fall from Steel Appeal in the first division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden, the well-touted Gunner Fifteen (2/1 – 6/4) made all the running. He gave his many supporters their only semi-anxious moment when erring at the fourth last of the 15 obstacles. From two out, it was clear that the winning son of Westerner was containing the recent Kilworth third Pepper Canister and he duly beat Denis Prendergast’s charge by a comprehensive three lengths in what was the fastest-run race of the afternoon. The likelihood is that the Chalkmead Ltd-owned Gunner Fifteen, a close relation to Conquering Leader, will now be offered for sale at public auction.
Queally then combined with James Dullea to collect the second division of the confined hunts maiden with the well-supported West Of the Edge (2/1 – 5/4). Similarly, West Of The Edge was another to benefit from frontrunning tactics and the victorious five-year-old appeared to be possibly travelling marginally better than Ballinaclasha Lad when Dan Rohan’s representative fell at the final fence.
Mikey O’Connor and Colman Sweeney were also in double form. O’Connor opened his account aboard Gerry Kelleher’s Rocky Stone (8/1) in the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden whilst he then made practically all the running aboard Ballyhooley-based handler Aidan O’Gorman’s Ballydague Lady (6/4) in the second division of the six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.
Sweeney got off the mark aboard Padraig Higgins’ Ballyknock Wood (9/4) in the first split of the confined hunts maiden whilst he signed off aboard Liam Burke’s recent Dromahane runner-up Lord Fox (2/1) in the winners of one.
John Nallen’s Minella Scamp (3/1) advertised his Goffs Land Rover credentials by making a stylish winning debut under ‘Corky’ Carroll in the second instalment of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
