Hard Station digs in to thwart Hurricane

The Dr Joe O’Keeffe-owned/trained Hard Station lit up yesterday’s Killeady Harriers point-to-point meeting at Ballyarthur by making all the running with John Barry in the winners of one.

The hooded Hard Station (6/1), a wide-margin maiden winner at Kilworth last season, jumped with aplomb at the head of affairs but it appeared he had a battle on his plate when the patiently-ridden Hurricane Ben went second after the penultimate of the 15 obstacles.

However, Hard Station found for pressure to edge out Hurricane Ben by a half-length in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.

O’Keeffe said: “Hard Station will be a better horse on better ground and we will probably go for the hunters chase at Killarney next month with him now.”

Paul O’Flynn struck with the Darsi-sired newcomer Quarry Leader (4/1) in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Quarry Leader and runner-up Buster Thomas disputed the running practically from flagfall and the winning bay got on top for Ciaran Fennessy coming to the last to beat Raymond McCurtin’s promising charge by two lengths. The pair finished 20 lengths clear of the third-placed Trans Usa.

O’Flynn indicated that his father Tom’s Quarry Leader will now be offered at some of the forthcoming sales.

Barry O’Neill dominated the remainder of the meeting by partnering a three-timer, the Co Wexford amateur opening his account aboard the Colin Bowe-trained grey Ramses de Teillee (7/2) in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The French-bred Ramses De Teillee made smooth progress from four out to hit the front after the second last.

Although blundering at the final fence, he still beat Rock My Style by six lengths.

It was also Bowe that supplied O’Neill with his middle success of the afternoon courtesy of Sheneededthrun (2/5) in the six-year-old mares’ maiden.

Sheneededtherun edged ahead coming to the final fence to dismiss Miss Night Owl by four lengths.

O’Neill completed his treble courtesy of the Robert Tyner-trained Whats In It For Me (5/2) in the closing five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts maiden.

Whats In It For Me stepped up from her third-placed effort at Belclare last month by leading from two out to beat newcomer Laces Out by three lengths and the winning daughter of Flemensfirth will now be left off for the remainder of the season.

Doneraile amateur William Cronin recorded his second points victory aboard Burgess View (7/1), the only pointer that handler Johnjoe Walsh currently has in his care, in the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

Results Going:

Yielding/Soft

Goffs Bloodstock Sales 4-Y-O Geldings’ Maiden of €800. 3 Miles

1) Milestone Racing Partnership’s Ramses De Teillee (FR) gr g (Martaline – Princesse D’orton) 11-10 Mr B O’Neill

2) Monbeg Syndicate’s Rock My Style 11-10 Mr P D Collins

3) Cobajay Syndicate’s Coole Hall 11-10 Mr R Deegan

12 ran. 6L, 9L, 4L. (Winner trained by Colin Bowe)

Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham Sales 5-Y-O Geldings’ Maiden of €800. 3 Miles

1) T O’Flynn’s Quarry Leader b g (Darsi – Pollys Leader) 12-1 Mr C W Fennessy

2) R J McCurtin’s Buster Thomas 12-1 Mr J C Barry

3) Joe & Mrs K O’Callaghan’s Trans Usa 12-1 Mr E P O’Brien

17 ran. 2L, 20L, 12L. (Winner trained by Paul O’Flynn)

Gain Horse Feeds, FDC Tax Department Ltd & Clona Dairies 6-Y-O Mares’ Maiden of €800. 3 Miles

1) B J Moran’s Sheneededtherun b m (Kayf Tara – Lady Moon) 11-10 Mr B O’Neill

2) Ms E Fuller’s Miss Night Owl (GB) 11-10 Mr R O Harding

3) Dream On Syndicate’s Soapy’s Dream 11-10 Mr D L Queally

5 ran. 4L, 18L, 3L. (Winner trained by Colin Bowe)

Oriel Hotel Winners Of One of €1,000. 3 Miles

1) Dr J O’Keeffe’s Hard Station b g (Bandari – Vinecroft) 7-12-1 Mr J C Barry

2) E Callanan’s Hurricane Ben 7-12-1 Mr Mr C W Fennessy

3) D Murphy’s Rockwood Rose 9-11-10 Mr D L Queally

11 ran. 1/2L, 9L, 7L. (Winner trained by Dr Joseph O’Keeffe)

Cork & Waterford 6-Y-O & Upwards Geldings’ Maiden of €800. 3 Miles

1) M Kearney’s Burgess View b g (Kayf Tara – Dahara) 6-11-10 Mr W T Cronin

2) P Cronin’s Naturally Blond 6-12-1 Mr D Murphy

3) M Ronayne’s Chasing Casey 6-12-1 Mr D M Spillane

15 ran. 2L, 3/4L, Nk. (Winner trained by John J Walsh)

Crossbarry Inn & Pegus Horse Feeds 5-Y-O & Upwards Adjacent Hunts Maiden of €800. 3 Miles

1) All The Hens Syndicate’s Whats In It For Me b m (Flemensfirth – Very Presenting) 5-11-10 Mr B O’Neill

2) C Hallahan’s Laces Out 7-11-10 Mr E M O’Sullivan

3) A Hickey’s Dalus King 8-12-1 Mr M D Hickey

10 ran. 3L, 6L, 1/2L. (Winner trained by Robert Tyner)