Nicole’s Milan seals Ballyarthur double for Sean Aherne

Sean Aherne dominated proceedings at yesterday’s well-attended Kilworth & Araglen Harriers point-to-point meeting at Ballyarthur outside Fermoy by saddling two winners.

The Milan-sired newcomer Nicole’s Milan completed Aherne’s brace by returning to the number one slot with Dinny Spillane in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Sent off a largely-unconsidered 10/1 shot, Nicole’s Milan was always well positioned as West To Crossgales took the nine runners along. The eventual winner made his way to the front at the third last and he clearly seemed to be travelling better than the pursuing Alpha Indi when jumping left-handed at the final fence, losing valuable momentum in the process.

However, Nicole’s Milan was soon back on an even keel and he asserted on the flat to oblige by two and a half lengths.

“This horse was bought at the August sale in Fairyhouse last year and he will probably now go for the point-to-point bumper at Cork on Easter Monday,”said Aherne.

The Sheila Ahern-ridden Robin The Gypsy (9/4) initiated the Aherne double by landing the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.

The hooded Robin The Gypsy, having been pulled up on her previous two forays, benefited from frontrunning tactics and, although far from clever at the penultimate of the 15 obstacles, she forged clear before the last to beat Nora Poppins by three lengths in the colours of the Hunt Hill Syndicate from Tallow.

Ciaran Fennessy kept his many supporters happy by departing with two winners and he got off the mark aboard Pat Crowley’s newcomer Steel Bob (7/4 – 5/4) in the four-year-old maiden, much to the dismay of the 11 bookmakers present.

Noel Henley’s Bennys Girl (11/8) brought up the Fennessy two-timer in the mares’ winners of three.

Bennys Girl eased to the front at the third last. She quickly established a couple of lengths advantage and powered clear coming to the final fence to beat main market-rival Ballyknock Hill by three lengths.

Henley later indicated that the now four-times victorious Bennys Girl could now be prepared for a tilt at the Cork maiden hunters chase over Easter.

The Batt O’Connell-trained Truckin All Night easily justified 7/4 favouritism with Johnny Hurley in the novice riders open. Truckin All Night avenged his most recent second-placed effort at Knockanard last month by leading on the inner well before the final fence and he then swept clear to dispose of Vital Plot by six lengths.

The six-year-old and upwards maiden, the race that attracted the biggest field of the day in 16 starters, concluded proceedings and local Kilworth-based handler Sean O’Brien struck with his wife Caroline’s towering newcomer Impulsive Star (6/1).

The winning six-year-old moved through with Richie Harding to challenge Irish Mustard after the second last.

There was very little to separate the pair when Irish Mustard sustained a crashing final fence fall when still holding every chance and Impulsive Star then coasted home by 15 lengths from Mary Hallahan’s Mount Oliver.

A hurdling campaign is now probable for Impulsive Star.

Results

Going:Yielding/Soft

DBS Aintree Sale 4-Y-O Maiden of €1,000. 3 Miles

1) P Crowley’s Steel Bob

b g (Craigsteel – Lady Kamando) 11-10 Mr C W Fennessy

2) T O’Sullivan’s Tree Of Liberty

11-10 Mr J P O’Rourke

3) P T Flavin’s Mickey Shea

11-10 Mr B O Walsh

6 ran. 4L, 5L, 4L. (Winner trained by Pat Crowley)

Gain Feeds, Dairygold Pegus Feed & D Condon 5 & 6-Y-O Mares’ Maiden of €1,000. 3 Miles

1) Hunt Hill Syndicate’s Robin The Gypsy

ch m (Robin Des Champs – Euro Gypsy) 6-11-5 Miss S Ahern

2) Tutti Fruitti Syndicate’s Nora Poppins

5-11-5 Miss S McGrath

3) P T Flavin’s Fairy Canoe

5-11-10 Mr B O Walsh

5 ran. 3L, 6L. Only 3 Horses Finished. (Winner trained by Sean Aherne)

Liam & Sam Walshe Kilworth 5-Y-O Geldings’ Maiden of €1, 000. 3 Miles

1) E A Barry’s Nicole’s Milan

b g (Milan – Top Lot) 12-1 Mr D M Spillane

2) Ms R Hickey’s Alpha Indie

12-1 Mr D L Queally

3) E M O’Sullivan’s Canyourhearmenow

12-1 Mr C W Fennessy

9 ran. 2 1/2L, 3 1/2L. Only 3 Horses Finished. (Winner trained by Sean Aherne)

Jim Linehan Transport, Swallow Inn Bar & McCarthy Insurance Mares’ Winners Of Three of €1,000. 3 Miles

1) D Tarrant’s Bennys Girl

b m (Beneficial – Be My Flower) 8-12-1 Mr C W Fennessy

2) P G Higgins & Ms S Donatantonio’s Ballyknock Hill

7-12-1 Mr J C Barry

3) G Kelleher’s Thats My Goal

8-12-1 Mr D L Queally

4 ran. 3L, 5L, Dist. (Winner trained by Noel Henley)

The Village Inn Novice Riders Open Lightweight of €1,200. 3 Miles

1) Conna Enclosure Syndicate’s Truckin All Night

b g (Snurge – Bun Doite) 10-12-1 Mr J Hurley

2) L Kenny’s Vital Plot

(USA) 12-12-1 Mr J W Kenny

3) Mrs A J Kennedy’s Character Actor

12-12-1 Mr J J O’Connor 9 ran. 6L, 1/2L, 1 1/2L. (Winner trained by Batt O’Connell)

Cotters Bar & Butchers Bar 6-Y-O & Upwards Maiden of €1,000. 3 Miles

1) Mrs C O’Brien’s Impulsive Star

b g (Busy Flight – Impulsive Ita) 6-12-1 Mr R O Harding

2) C Hallahan’s Mount Oliver

6-12-1 Mr J P O’Rourke

3) A Hickey’s Dalus King

8-12-1 Mr M D Hickey

16 ran. 15L, 3L, 10L. (Winner trained by Sean O O’Brien)