Hello Neighbour maintains unbeaten record
GOODBYE RIVALS: Hello Neighbour and Gary Carroll win the Roscommon Rated Race on Monday. Picture: Healy Racing
The second leg of a double for Gavin Cromwell and Gary Carroll, Hello Neighbour retained his unbeaten record when justifying even-money favouritism at Roscommon’s final meeting of 2024.
Successful on his debut in Navan and dropping significantly in trip, the Harzand gelding scored convincingly by three lengths from Cheeky Wink.
Cromwell said: “He’s a nice horse and, hopefully, a good horse. This trip (a mile and a quarter) is a minimum for him, which was a bit of a concern. But the ease in the ground probably balanced things. We’re going hurdling with him now.”
The Cromwell-Carroll double had been initiated when Cheeky Wink tasted success for the second time, in the second division of the 47-65 seven-furlong handicap, her trainer commenting: “Everything fell right for her — ease in the ground and they went good and hard.”
The Joanna Morgan-trained Merisi Diamond notched his fourth career success and confirmed last month’s course and distance form with Mercurial when outpointing that rival in the www.roscommonracecourse.ie Handicap.
Ridden by regular partner Ronan Whelan, the progressive five-year-old came from the back of the field, challenged widest of all, and got up late to triumph by a neck.
“He’s just a very good horse when he gets his conditions,” stated trainer Morgan. “I ran him on good to yielding because he was so well, but he’s different gravy in that (soft) ground. He’s massive, a nice horse to deal with and should be even better next year.”
Narrowly denied with Mercurial, trainer John Nallen enjoyed better luck when Seamus Heffernan partnered four-year-old Siyouni gelding Firebrand to an all-the-way win in the Class Grass Maiden, holding the persistent challenge of favourite Babich by a half-length.
Henry de Bromhead’s five-race maiden Ata Rangi opened his account when making all in the opening Roscommon racecourse Maiden, staying on to beat favourite Thequietman by a length and a quarter.
Lee, who competed a double on 3-1 favourite Paradise Lost in the finale, commented: “He’s been consistent and, on his best form, was entitled to win his maiden. He hit the gates and took me to the front, so I let him at it and he kept going well.”
Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle followed up Sunday’s Naas double when Prairie Dancer captured the On-Course Vets Handicap in convincing style, building on a recent win at Bellewstown.
