O'Neill continues winning run
Jonjo O’Neill has hit the ground running in 2009 and sent out a 64-1 double courtesy of Supreme Keano and Carnival Town at Chepstow.
The brace moved the master of Jackdaws Castle on to the seven-winner mark for the last fortnight, and added to his productive spell that also saw Exotic Dancer claim a Grade One victory at home over the Christmas period.
Supreme Keano, a brother to O’Neill’s classy Keen Leader, appeared to face a tough task pitched into handicap company for his debut over fences in the Jenkinsons Caterers Handicap Chase.
But he rose to the task and Tony McCoy drove him across the line a length and three-quarters to the good.
O’Neill’s travelling head lad, Paddy Brennan, said: “He had been working nicely at home, and he does jump and stay.
“He did it nicely and, although he is no Keen Leader, he is a nice sort.”
O’Neill earlier struck with 12-1 shot Carnival Town, who left his two most recent runs when pulled up well behind to take the Jenkinsons Caterers 1st For Conferences Beginners’ Chase.
Jaunty Journey caused a 50-1 upset as a gamble on Mask Of Darkness went astray in division one of the Jenkinsons Caterers Maiden Hurdle.
The Irish raider was backed down to 9-4 favouritism in the three-mile test, but came up short at the business end after travelling smoothly into contention and he faded into third.
Winning trainer Carl Llewellyn said: “I can’t believe he was 50-1. I saw the price and told his owners to back him again.
“He won a point-to-point on soft ground and his Wincanton run was a great effort.”
Division two provided John O’Shea with his first winner over jumps for 182 days as Radmores Revenge scraped home under Aidan Coleman.
The 12-1 chance relished going a trip and it took the judge a few moments to separate the six-year-old from Mr Mackay in a photo finish, with a nose the official winning distance.
O’Shea said: “That is a nice start to the year – a winner from our first runner, and I hope it continues.
“I thought he had a right chance today and couldn’t see him being out of the first three.”
David Evans’ Dontpaytheferryman (11-4) proved a cut above in the Jenkinsons Caterers 1st Choice For Hospitality Juvenile Novices’ Claiming Hurdle and raced to an 11-length success.
The four-year-old’s success failed to go unnoticed with Alan Dickman claiming the winner for £10,000 (€11,000).
Haverfordwest handler David Rees sent out his first winner for almost a year as 9-2 joint favourite Aheadofhistime got the better of market rival Guns of Love in the conditional jockeys’ handicap chase, while Carmarthenshire-based Alison Thorpe was also on the mark courtesy of Pearl (9-2) in the mares’ handicap hurdle.
