O’Connor narrows gap to one
Whilst O’Connor partnered two winners as opposed to Codd’s one, it’s still the south Wexford amateur that leads the title-race by a mere winner. At the end of yesterday’s action, Codd is now positioned on the 78 winner mark, as opposed to O’Connor’s 77.
Having sustained two falls from his six mounts, O’Connor instigated his two-timer in terrific fashion aboard the Robert Tyner-trained Killimordaly in the confined hunts maiden. The well-supported Killimordaly (3/1 – 7/4), whilst having to be called for an effort in fifth spot after the fourth last of the 15 obstacles, readily rose his effort to lead before two out. With runner-up The Black Dog closing approaching the final fence, it was Killimordaly that landed the faster here and the winning five-year-old asserted in the closing stages to dismiss Gerry Mangan’s mount by four lengths in the colours of absent Galwegian Patrick Hardiman.
The ten-time champion doubled up aboard Sean Aherne’s grey Kenmare Bay (5/1) in the concluding six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.
The patiently-ridden Kenmare Bay led away from the second last and he outjumped the pursuing Marmaladeskies at the final fence to oblige by a comfortable three lengths. Aherne later paid tribute to owner Joseph Condon from Curraglass for persevering with Kenmare Bay, who was obliging at the ninth career attempt.
Marmaladeskies’ rider Jamie Codd got in on the act however by steering Paul Pierce’s Blurred Lines (7/2) to a last gasp-success in the five-year-old mares’ maiden. Musical Dame led from six out and she still held the call over the staying-on Blurred Lines at the final fence. With little to separate the pair as the line approached, it was the victorious daughter of Shantou, representing Pierce’s father Andy, that came out by a short head in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.
Mikey O’Connor dominated the remainder of the card by riding three winners and it was the Joe Ryan-trained newcomer Missed Approach (4/1) that instigated the north Corkonian’s hat-trick in the opening four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Missed Approach disputed the running with Solomn Grundy until going for home at the fourth last. Although none too clever at the second last, the Golan-sired Missed Approach stayed on determinedly in the closing stages to oblige by a length from favourite Weststreet who didn’t exactly aid his cause by blundering at the final fence.
The 32-year-old then teamed up with Donoughmore-based handler John O’Brien to collect the five-year-old geldings’ maiden with the hugely-exciting Captain Von Trappe (5/2).
A promising third on his career debut behind Wild Bill at Dromahane on April 13th, Captain Von Trappe made all the running and he eased clear between the final two fences to beat Hannah Lee’s newcomer Optimistic Bias by a ridiculously-easy two lengths. Captain Von Trappe is owned by Dungarvan cattle mart manager Ger Flynn in partnership with his brother Francis and, on the strength of this impressive performance, the Germany-sired bay is unlikely to remain in the pair’s ownership for much longer.
O’Connor brought up his three-timer aboard the Michael Winters-trained mare Theatre Princess in the winners of two. Theatre Princess similarly benefited from frontrunning tactics and the seven-year-old, owned by Winters’ near-neighbour Eamon Tarrant from outside Kanturk, effortlessly forged clear after two out to beat the only other finisher Dynamo Frankie by 12 lengths. Winters will now aim Theatre Princess at the winners of three race at Ballybunion on Saturday May 24th.
