Hawkhurst makes impressive debut in maiden
The Flemensfirth-sired Hawkhurst (6/4), an own-brother to former Grade 1 novice hurdle winner Muirhead, always took the eye in running with ‘Corky’ Carroll, although his fencing was of some cause for concern on occasion.
The eventual winner eased past long-time leader Cappa Doce on the run to the penultimate of the 14 obstacles and was well in command when closest pursuer Truckers Friend, in the region of eight lengths adrift, fell at the final fence.
Thady Quil finished second, some 12 lengths adrift of the Nigel Collison-owned bay that was bought by his present connections as a foal.
“It has taken a while for this fellow to come to himself and today was the plan. I’ve always viewed him as a nice horse,” said Charleville-based Leahy, who was absent but later spoke by phone.
Donal Coffey’s Queer Times (3/1) also created a hugely-favourable impression by coming home as he pleased on his return to the fray in the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Queer Times, who finished fifth in a competitive Athlacca maiden won by subsequent British novice hurdle winner Ballycoe in May, led from the third fence and he made the rest of the running with Colin Motherway to beat last month’s Boulta runner-up Black Glen Boy by an unchallenged six lengths.
Derek O’Connor is making a bold bid to reclaim his riders’ crown and the Galwegian partnered two winners, completing his brace aboard owner/trainer Dr Joe O’Keeffe’s Wayupinthesky (4/5 — 4/6) in the winners of two.
Wayupinthesky, runner-up to Seventh Sign in a vintage Boulta open on November 23rd, came from well off the pace and he took up the running before the final fence. Whilst runner-up Golden Crisp closed on the flat, Wayupinthesky prevailed to score by a head in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.
Twenty Eight Guns (2/1 – 5/4), yet another Boulta runner-up last month, initiated O’Connor’s two-timer in the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden and by doing so, the British-bred was providing handler Sam Curling with an initial success of the campaign. Twenty Eight Guns similarly benefited from waiting tactics and she eased to the front after the penultimate obstacle to thwart Callmarlan by seven lengths.
Declan Queally also partnered two winners, the Cappagh amateur getting off the mark aboard the giant-sized Bigbadjohn (11/4) in the competitive second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Garrett Power’s Bigbadjohn challenged Theflyingportrait from three out and the recent Ballindenisk fourth mastered Michael Winters’ charge from the last to oblige by three lengths in the colours of Danesfort-based Godfrey Moylan, also the breeder of Enda Bolger’s recent impressive Dromahane maiden victor My Hometown.
Silent Wish (10/1) completed Queally’s double in a gripping three-way finish to the closing five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden, the race that attracted the biggest field of the day in 17 runner
The John O’Callaghan-trained Silent Wish, a close relation to Boston Bob, stormed to the fore on the outer inside the final 25 yards to dismiss dead-heaters’ Majestic Preacher and Classic Palace by a half-length. Last season’s Kilworth runner-up Silent Wish is shared by David O’Sullivan from Whitescross with his sister Dr Margaret O’Sullivan.
Ballyduff Upper-based handler Pat O’Connor opened his account for the autumn courtesy of the James Hannon-ridden Grey Rio (7/2) in the adjacent hunts maiden.
Grey Rio, representing O’Connor’s wife Norma, had just taken the measure of Hawkers Son when the long-time leader came to grief at the final fence. Hawkers Son’s rider Mikey O’Connor unfortunately sustained a fractured left-collar bone in the fall that saw racing delayed by 15 minutes while the rider was being treated for his injury.
Just Cause (evens – 4/5) , sporting the same Gigginstown House Stud silks that were also carried to success by ex-pointer No More Heroes in the Grade 2 novice hurdle at Navan, easily justified favouritism in the second instalment of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The ‘Mouse’ Morris-trained Just Cause, a fine third on his only previous start in a Kirkistown maiden point last term, was travelling better than the pursuing Wade Harper when the pair both blundered at the final fence. The victorious son of Court Cave was the faster away from the obstacle and he duly defeated Just Acting by two lengths with a similar margin back to Wade Harper in third spot.
