Heffernan doubles up at Laytown
LIFE'S A BEACH: The scene from Laytown with horses racing up the beach during the Glina's Cottage Inn Handicap won by Cherry Pink and Adam Caffrey. Picture: Healy Racing
Seamus Heffernan took the riding honours with a fine double on Ivasecret and Roman Harry at the annual meeting on the beach in Laytown.
Trained in England by Ian Williams (whose Mokaatil had finished third earlier), first reserve Ivasecret justified hefty support and 7-4 favouritism when bolting up by six lengths in the Tote.ie Claiming Race.
A delighted Williams said: “These are my first runners here – we came last year, had a look around and liked it, so we decided to come back.
“This horse has bags of ability, but plenty of issues, and I’d say the beach brought out the best in him. We’ve all been well looked after and we’ll definitely be back.”
The Heffernan double was completed when Roman Harry (12-1), a first runner at Laytown for his trainer Claire O’Connell, brushed aside the favourite Jeaniemacaroney in the Pride Of Place Maiden.
The successful trainer said: “I train locally and bring the horses to Mornington beach every Sunday, but it’s my first time here and it’s great to win with my first runner as my father rode winners here. This horse is claustrophobic, but the beach rejuvenated him.”
The colours of Moyglare Strud Farm, carried to Irish St Leger success by Kyprios on Sunday, were back in the winner’s enclosure following the easy win of the Ger Lyons-trained Tough Talk in the concluding amateur event.
Without a win since landing a Curragh maiden on his debut in April 2022, the four-year-old Kingman gelding outclassed his rivals, making most of the running under Derek O’Connor before drawing clear to beat fellow 13-8 joint-favourite Quar Shamar by 10 lengths.
The winning rider stated: “He really enjoyed it – I’d say the beach and the whole atmosphere, the surface and the crowd lit him up.”
Local trainer Ado McGuinness rarely leaves the annual meeting without a winner and he saddled joint-favourite Cherry Pink (Adam Caffrey) to win the Gilna’s Cottage Inn Handicap, beating longshot Spirit Of Eagles, to reward locally-based Bronsan Racing, who leased the filly for the day.
“She’s not a sprinter and I though six furlongs here might be a bit quick for her,” said McGuinness. “I told Adam to take his time and she had rock-solid form. She’s entered for Dundalk on Friday and the plan was to go to Listowel, so we’ll see what the handicapper does before we make a decision.”
Jody Townend savoured her first success at Laytown on board Jungle Cove, owned and trained by Jessica Harrington, in the ONEILLS.COM Amateur Handicap. The grey, a 22-1 shot, pounced late to deny Harry’s Bar.
“That was some buzz,” Townend said. “My instructions were to let him enjoy himself and he loved it. He’s a horse with plenty of ability and this place sparked him up.”
Winner of the 47-65 six-furlong handicap at this meeting last year, the David Marnane-trained Jered Maddox again proved his liking for the beach when landing the (50-75) Download The New Tote App Handicap.
Ridden by Lune McAteer, the eight-year-old recorded his 10th career success by beating Not Forgotten by a short-head, prompting his trainer to comment: “He’s a talented horse on his day and loves this place. He’s been a great servant and deserves a little holiday now before coming back in mid-winter at Dundalk.”
