In-form Liam Burke strikes with The Grey Knight
The fixture was staged on a new figure-of-eight type course and it went through some parts of the old track at Kilossera, where racing has been run since 1942. The course appeared to ride well with stamina however being at a premium on the heavy underfoot surface.
The Grey Knight (5/2), absent since finishing down the field in a Tipperary maiden hurdle last April, seemed to revel on the ground conditions and he made all the running in the hands of Richie Harding. The winning son of Daylami gave his supporters some cause for concern by erring two out, but he soon readily pulled clear of toiling runner-up Baracalu to oblige by a distance with the pair being the only finishers from the seven runners that set out.
“I only have this horse a few weeks and most of the credit has to go to Ian Power from Slieverue, who had him until then,” said Burke of The Grey Knight, owned by the Navarre Partnership that’s headed by Ned Hawe from Liscarroll. “That was a fair performance out there today as he galloped all of them into the ground and he will probably be sold now.”
Declan Queally is always a rider to follow at his local course and the Cappagh amateur partnered two winners with the probable highlight being his facile success in the winners of two aboard the mare Silver Serenade (6/4), whom he also trains for his mother Bernie.
The nine-year-old Silver Serenade benefited from waiting tactics and she made her move early on the approximate one and a half furlong run-in to overtake Ducloyne Lady. It was all plain sailing from there with the daughter of Cloudings, in whom Paul Veale from Dungarvan also holds an interest, sweeping clear to oblige by two lengths. The grey-coloured Silver Serenade will now be aimed at the hunters chase at Tramore in April.
Queally then combined with James Dullea, absent at Leopardstown where his Just Get Cracking was narrowly beaten in the Sandyford Handicap Chase at 2.30, to collect the open lightweight with veteran Dog Barrel Hill (5/2).
Having finished an excellent third on his return to action at Killeagh the previous Sunday, Dog Barrel Hill led from the final fence and, whilst tiring somewhat inside the final 100 yards, the Bandon raider still beat the unexposed Landmarque by one and three quarter lengths. Dog Barrel Hill is presently rated just 76 over fences and it’s more than possible that he will be able to make a triumphant return to handicap chase company over the coming months.
Eamon Courtney from Killarney sent out his initial winner as a handler courtesy of last May’s Doncaster sales purchase Buffalo Brave (3/1 – 5/2) in the closing six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden. Buffalo Brave, having raced prominently, bravely came a second time with talented five claimer Chris O’Donovan to lead on the inner after the final fence and he surged clear as the line approached to beat Johnnyonepunch by six lengths in the colours of Courtney’s wife Valerie. A winners of one contest is now probable for the likeable Buffalo Brave.
The Eudora O’Connor-trained Lastpop (6/4) proved to be the only winning favourite of the afternoon in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.
Lastpop, only just narrowly touched off on her previous start at Lisronagh last month, went for home with Gerry Mangan after the fourth last. Whilst newcomer Strangsmill challenged with every chance at the final fence, the white-faced Lastpop was in no mood to be denied. The Bach-sired Lastpop, representing Tallow-based Miss O’Connor’s mother Mary, ultimately fought off Strangsmill by one and a quarter lengths.
Kilgobnet-based owner/trainer Lionel Beresford sent out his very first winner in the shape of Castlequarter Star (7/4, who was returning from a 22-month absence, in the confined hunt maiden. The seven-year-old mare Castlequarter Star made all the running with Stadbally native David Kiely, who was posting an initial points success to go with his eight bumper winners, and she stormed clear of favourite Coolagh Moll from after the last to score by an unchallenged 15 lengths.
1) Navarre Racing Partnership’s
gr g (Daylami – Whakapala) 12-1 Mr R O Harding
2) Mrs T Hyde’s
(Fr) 11-10 Mr N Bashford
7 ran. Dist. Only 2 Horses Finished. (Winner trained by W J Burke)
1) Mrs M C O’Connor’s
ch m (Bach – Pops Princess) 7-11-10 Mr G M Mangan
2) T M Kent’s
7-11-10 M P D Collins
3) P M Walsh’s
8-11-5 Mr S D Fenton
7 ran. 1 1/4L, 8L, 1 1/2L. (Winner trained by Eudora O’Connor)
1) Mrs B Queally’s
gr m (Cloudings – Carrigbuck) 9-11-10 Mr D L Queally
2) J D Walsh’s
7-11-10 Mr P A King
3) J Buckley’s
7-12-1 Miss M O’Sullivan
4 ran. 2L, 15L, 10L. (Winner trained by Declan Queally)
1) L J Beresford’s
ch m (Blueprint – Amiastar) 7-11-5 Mr D Kiely
2) Mrs M Queally’s
5-11-10 Mr D L Queally
3) Mrs C Kiely’s
6-12-1 Mr R J Kiely
5 ran. 15L, 8L. Only 3 Horses Finished. (Winner trained by Lionel James Beresford)
1) J D Dullea’s
br g (Anshan – Ballyrock Lady) 12-12-1 Mr D L Queally
2) E M O’Sullivan’s
(GB) 7-12-1 Miss M O’Sullivan
3) T J Nagle Jnr’s
12-11-10 Miss E M Nagle
7 ran. 1 3/4L, 2L, 12L. (Winner trained by James Daniel Dullea)
1) Mrs V Courtney’s
b g (St Jovite – Miss Peach) 6-11-10 Mr M C O’Donovan
2) Mrs E Slevin’s
7-12-1 Mr J J Slevin
3) W Deacon’s
8-12-1 Mr S G Carey
6 ran. 6L, 2 1/2L, Nk. (Winner trained by Eamon Courtney)
