7 April 2022 - Flipbook - Page 95
HORSEWEEK
By Shaun O’Dea
‘
BUILDING Bridges’
(28/1)
provided
a local victory in
the handicap hurdle
at the Downpatrick
meeting on Friday,
May 6, for father
and son duo Gary
and Oran McGill.
The winner made
every yard of the
running in the long
distance event and
the Maghera based
amateur rider Oran
McGill,
who
is
establishing himself
on the local points
circuit, can be proud
of the ride he gave his
father’s horse, which
had been bought for
£3,000 from crosschannel
handler
Stuart Edmonds.
McGill Junior said:
“We sort of expected
it as he was going
well at home. He
FARMWEEK
MAY 19 2022
95
Local victory for ‘Building
Bridges’
g
at Downpatrick
LOCAL VICTORY: ‘Building Bridges’ supplied a local victory in the
Downpatrick handicap hurdle, when Oran McGill excelled, making all to
win on his father Gary’s horse. (FW20-575SO)
always went from the
front in England and
we thought he was
too keen. We tried
him from behind
the last day at Down
DIRECTOR: Una and Brian Nicholl, lifelong
director of the Downpatrick course, pictured
with Judith Wainright. (FW20-577SO)
STEWARDS: The local team of stewards at
Downpatrick, Robert Steele, Raymond Martin
and Frankie Fitzsimmons. (FW20-576SO)
Royal, but he sulked,
so today we said we
would give it a shot
out in front. He loved
it. We got a breather
at the top of the hill
and he sailed down
the hill and ran on
right to the line.”
‘Ottoman Style’ (3s
to 2/1), trained by
John McConnell, won
the opener supplying
jockey Thomas
Reilly with his fourth
success. The former
winner of an Irish
point to point was
only having his
second outing for
the trainer, having
been bought from
British trainer,
Jamie Snowden.
The winner quickly
moved to the front
rank at the third
flight and, having
always been close,
led two from home
assuming command
and won with a
degree of ease.
McConnell said:
“He’s a lovely big
horse. He had a
promising first run
and had come on
from it. He likes
nice ground and
Runner-up finish for Kenny
in Madrid Grand Prix
O
FFALY’S Darragh Kenny and his Tokyo Olympic mount ‘VDL
Cartello’ finished in a share of second place in Saturday evening’s
five-star Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Madrid
in Spain.
10 combinations made it through to the jump-off, where Kenny took
the lead with the Heathman Farm-owned stallion, when posting the
first double clear in 39.91 seconds. Brazil’s Marlon Módolo Zanotelli
was next to go with ‘VDL Edgar M’ and remarkably they crossed the
line clear in exactly the same time as the Irish rider. It looked as though
Ireland and Brazil would share victory before 23-year-old Dutch rider
Sanne Thijssen claimed a memorable win with ‘Con Quidam RB’, after
they crossed the line clear in 39.15 when last to go. Thijssen became
the third-youngest rider to ever win a prestigious Longines Global
Champions Tour Grand Prix.
The Championship race now moves to Ramatuelle, Saint-Tropez for
leg five of the spectacular global circuit.
ON THE PODIUM:
Left, Darragh Kenny
(IRL), Marlon Módolo
Zanotelli (BRA) and
Sanne Thijssen (NED)
stand on the podium
following the LGCT
Grand Prix of Madrid
(FW20-564NN)
PICTURE:
courtesy of LGCT
obviously he will
make a nice chaser.”
The County Meath
trainer doubled up
on the night when
‘Wild Shot’, with
Shane Fitzgerald
aboard, easily
won the maiden
hurdle. The field
was quickly strung
out from the start,
but four had claims
at the last, where
the front-running
‘Dromolought’ made
a very bad blunder,
however, the winner
had made steady
improvement from
three out to score.
The Andrew
Kinirons trained
‘Hidden Land’ (16s to
100/30) proved the
runway winner of
the mares handicap
hurdle. The winner,
partnered by
amateur Johnny
Barry, tracked the
leader ‘Reverse
Polarity’ throughout
the contest, prior
to leading at the
penultimate flight
and won with plenty
in hand.
Kinirons said: “She
had a great run in
Cheltenham and she
didn’t have a race at
all in Punchestown.
It probably left
her fresh, as she
was bucking and
squealing after it.
She loves this track
and the owner
is actually local
originally, so it is
great for him and
he is over so we are
delighted.”
The three-mile
handicap chase
HANDICAP CHASE: ‘Nuttoridge’ (Philip
Enright), right, stayed on best to claim the
Downpatrick handicap chase for Sligo trainer
Mark McNiff. (FW20-580SO)
was run at a
hectic pace, but it
was ‘Nuttoridge’,
trained at Sligo
by Mark McNiff,
that prevailed
and continued the
successful week
of jockey Philip
Enright.
Enright said: “Mark
was confident he
would run well
and he likes this
track - Mark has an
excellent strike rate
here. Hopefully he
can get some better
horses, as he does a
great job with those
he has.”
‘Golden Ferret’,
with Irish Grand
National winning
jockey Paddy
O’Hanlon in the
saddle, was the very
easy winner of the
handicap chase run
at a good pace and
the lead alternating
numerous times.
The winner, trained
by Paul Stafford, led
three from home and
thereafter had the
race in safe keeping.
The concluding
bumper developed
into a duel in the
closing stages, when
‘Meetingofthewaters’
overhauled long-time
leader and favourite
‘Ellis Boyd Redding’
in the closing stages,
supplying another
family success with
the winner trained
by Eugene O’Sullivan
and ridden by his
daughter, Maxine
and warranting the
very long trip from
TALENT: Maxine O’Sullivan showed her talent
in the saddle aboard ‘Meetingofthewaters’,
beating favourite ‘Ellis Boyd Redding’ in the
concluding bumper at Downpatrick.
(FW20-578SO)
Mallow, County Cork.
Maxine O’Sullivan
said: “He had a really
nice run last time
and finished really
strongly. We were
probably riding him
a small big cagey in
Cork to make sure
he finished his race
and pulling up I
was delighted with
him. I think he will
appreciate a bit of
nicer ground again.
Most of his runs,
unfortunately for
him, have been on
heavy and he has
done brilliantly, but
we think he might
appreciate the better
ground. He’s a lovely
horse and we are
delighted to have
him.”
MAIDEN HURDLE: ‘Wild Shot’ (Shane
Fitzgerald), near side spots cap, won the
maiden hurdle at Downpatrick. (FW20-579SO)
Something for everyone at Connell Hill
Good turnout at
ONNELL Hill,
Young, Sunrise;
McElhennon, Dinky
Randalstown,
Joanne Lyons,
Daisy.
Connell Hill SJI show
hosted the
Skye; Geoffrey
90cm: =1) Keeva
CONNELL
Hill
Equestrian
Centre,
Randalstown, hosted another leg of their
SJI Spring/ Summer League. It was great
to still see a good turnout with Balmoral
running and, as usual, competitors were
not disappointed in being able to jump an
inviting course built by Will Crean.
It was great to see everyone out enjoying
the sunshine and be able to spectate.
RESULTS
80cm double clear: Janene Gamble,
Corranglen Rockin Ruby; Jamie Leigh
Mackenzie, Mackenzies Autumn Rose.
90cm double clear: Jenny Campbell,
Laraghlease King; Ryan Hunter, HSC Eye
Candy.
1m double clear: Zoe Dickey, FSD Dance
a Lot; Shannon Mackenzie, Diamant de Lux;
Jonathan Smyth, Candy Boy Kid; Hannah
Grahm, NWF Pulsara; Oisin Dillon, Lcc
Ratatoullie; Georgie Lynch, Crystal Peg;
Paris Douglas, Killadaes April 1st.
1.10m: 1) Luke Devlin, FK Carson; 2) Zoe
Dickey, FSD Dance a Lot; 3) Jodie reighton,
DSL Lola; 4) Jonathan Smyth, Serenade B;
5) Katy McLean Drumrankin Serpent; 6)
Jonathan Smyth, Fyfin Glenn Boy.
1.20m: 1) Oisin Dillon, Lisbane Aladdin;
2) Jonathan Smyth, Castle Ferro Cruis; 3)
Jonathan Smyth, Larkhill Cruisette; 4) Ben
Walsh, Karma hdh; 5) Ben Walsh, Karel.
1.30m: 1) Oisin Dillon, Ballybeg Loui.
C
second show in its
new summer league
for horses and ponies
on Saturday. This
league will run until
the end of June, with
the final being on
June 25. To qualify
for a prize in the
final, you must have
attended four shows
(to include the final).
Entry is online at
www.connellhill
equestriancentre.
com before 6pm
the previous night
and details will be
published on the
Facebook page.
Classes start at
50cm and go up to
1.30m for the more
experienced rider.
RESULTS
Saturday, May 14
60cm: =1) Lucas
Young, Sunrise;
Joanne Lyones, Skye;
Ellie McGlade, Dingle.
70cm: =1) Ellie
McGlade, Dingle;
Keeva McElhennon,
Chada; Kat ButlerWard, Topper; Lucas
Ross Glass, Deano;
Diane Scott, Foxy;
Keeva McElhennon,
Sid; Sammy Lee
McClenaghan, Angel.
80cm: =1) Sammy
Lee McClenaghan,
Angel; Keeva
McElhennon, Chada,
Mya Morrison, Reva;
Keeva McElhennon,
Blue; Bianca
McElnea; Carmellas
Clover Pearl; Keeva
McElhennon, Sid;
Rebecca Murphy,
Rosie; Ben Maybin,
Sparky; Keeva
McElhennon, Blue;
Mya Morrison, Reva;
Keeva McElhennon,
Dinky Daisy.
1m: =1) Brendan
Doherty, Springhill
Casanova; Eamon
O’Connor, Dilemma;
Geoffrey Ross
Glass, Ollie; Sophie
Clugston, Question
Mark.
1.10m: =1) Brendan
Doherty, Springhill
Casanova; Eamon
Doherty, Dilemma,
Sophie Clugston,
Question Mark.
GRANSHA EQUESTRIAN CENTRE
KERRS ROAD BANGOR BT19 7QD
Adrienne Stuart • Tel 07855462614
SUNDAY 5TH JUNE JUBILEE SHOW PLUS
FINAL OF THE EQUINE AWARDS NI MINI AND RISING STARS
SATURDAY 11TH JUNE
FINAL OF THE EQUINE AWARDS NI DRESSAGE LEAGUE
SATURDAY 2ND AND SUNDAY 3RD JULY
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HORSE AND PONY SHOWING AND
WORKING HUNTER • DOG SHOW CLASSES
CRAFT AND FOOD STALLS PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE!
CONTACT COURTNEY IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A STALL ON 07828854304
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