Saddlenomore gets Conerney off the mark
The Liscarroll amateur completed his brace by bringing Saddlenomore from off the pace to thwart the brave frontrunning bid of Isourbell in the mares’ open. Isourbell, an excellent third in a similar type of event at Kinsale two days earlier, led with Sheila Ahern until overtaken by Saddlenomore (6/4 – evens) off the bend before the final fence. Whilst Isourbell rallied gallantly as the line approached, Saddlenomore still oblige by two lengths to provide Kilreekil-based Brendan Conerney with a first winner as handler.
O’Connor got off the mark aboard David O’Brien’s well-supported newcomer The Gatechecker (9/4 – 7/4) in the opening four-year-old geldings’ maiden. The Gatechecker arrived full of running to lead at the final fence and he duly bounded clear to beat Native Gamut by three lengths.
Jamie Codd was the recipient of a special presentation by the committee following his 95th and final success of the season aboard the Philip Dempsey-trained Exhibit Five (evens) in the first division of the six-year-old geldings’ maiden. Exhibit Five, runner-up at Lisronagh in December, went to the head of affairs after three out and he duly defeated Always Dreaming by six lengths.
Derek O’Connor showed precisely why he won the riders’ championship for the previous ten seasons by giving the well-supported Glebeparkhawk (7/2 – 11/4) a masterful frontrunning ride to collect the second division of this same contest. Glebeparkhawk, owned and trained by Brendan Madden from Co Westmeath, was always on top from before the last and he duly returned with three lengths to spare over An Tarbh Og.
Finian O’Toole (22) was credited with his initial success in the plate when guiding his own horse Where’d Ya Hide It (100/30), trained by Jimmy Finn, to a narrow success over Battle Bound in the second division of the novice riders’ eight-year-old and upwards maiden. Johnjoe Walsh meanwhile sent out the towering Drumloose (6/1), partnered by Mullingar native Simon Cavanagh, to beat long-time leader Ballinard Billy in the first split of this same contest.
Ms Jilly Maaye (7/1), owned and trained by John Foley from Borris, attained due reward for her consistency by beating Divadoyle with talented five claimer Richie Deegan in the six-year-old mares’ maiden. Vincent Halley’s grey Valentinos Choice (5/2) once again showed his appreciation for good ground by leading from the fourth fence for Kevin Power to dismiss One More Tune in the winners of two.
