2 February 2023 - Flipbook - Page 79
HORSEWEEK
FARMWEEK
AUGUST 11 2022
79
Interesting feature at Downpatrick
By Shaun O’Dea
T
HE featured Randox
Hurdle at Downpatrick
on Sunday proved
an interesting event,
with two top jockeys
adopting
very
different
tactics. The favourite ‘Dollar
Value’ (7/2 to 15/8) again was
reluctant to start, but the
ingenious Danny Mullins soon
had his mount travelling, but
opted to go along wide on
the stands rail and was 10
lengths clear at one point.
The winner, ‘Uhtred’ (11/2 to
4/1), with Bryan Cooper in
the saddle for trainer Joseph
O’Brien, having surrendered
his early lead was having to
work hard three from home,
but to the winner’s credit,
despite only fourth on the
downhill run was able to
challenge between horses
prior to the final flight to lead
and scoot clear, appearing
capable of better.
It was Cooper’s sole ride
and his birthday (30); he
said: “It was a stop start race.
I was just trying to keep him
in a rhythm. He didn’t like
the undulations. It was a nice
performance - he has plenty
of class and that win will
do him good. He picked up
better than I thought when
asked. It was his first run in
a while and I knew he’d come
forward.”
The opening mares maiden
hurdle yet again saw Jack
Kennedy
highlight
his
undoubted talents aboard
the Gordon Elliott trained
‘Happy Dex’ (5s to 100/30).
The jockey, always handy
aboard the winner, slipped
up the inside before the last
to lead and go clear to record
an easy victory, having
slipped up at the track when
squeezed for room on her
last visit. ‘Will You Win’ had
attempted to make all, but
was caught and one paced
filled third, with ‘Bella Bliss’
proving the principal rival,
as favourite ‘Trendy Lady’
FEATURE: Birthday boy Bryan Cooper got the best from
‘Uhtred’ in the feature at Downpatrick and can progress.
(FW32-565SO)
(5/2 to 13/8) disappointed
fading from two out, finishing
fourth.
Elliott said: “In fairness, she
has been a bit disappointing
and we were thinking of
sending her to the sales. I’ll
talk to the owners to see what
they want to do, as she’ll jump
a fence in time. She’s won a
bumper and won a maiden
hurdle and, if every horse did
that, it would be great. Jack
(Kennedy) is riding out of his
skin.”
‘Townhill Penny’ (9/4 to
3/1), under an exceptional
ride from Jack Kennedy,
completed a double for
the
rider
and
trainer,
Gordon Elliott. The race
was dominated by the front
running ‘Gibbet Hill’, which
drifted towards the stands
close to the line and the
locally trained ‘Menindee’,
however the winner kept on
resolutely late challenging
between the pair to score in
a photo finish - a neck and
short head separating the
trio.
Elliott said: “Jack gave her
a great ride. She didn’t travel
great early and was flat out
the whole way. He was strong
as an ox and just got her up.”
Claiming
jockey,
Niall
HANDICAP HURDLE: Claiming jockey Niall Moore shone on
‘Montel Glory’, pictured fourth, green/white, prior to claiming
the handicap hurdle at Downpatrick. (FW32-568SO)
Moore showcased his talents
when registering back to
back wins at the course on
the Philip Fenton trained
‘Montel Glory’. Squeezed for
room resulting in four horses
ahead of him before the
last, the young rider didn’t
panic and produced the
winner after the final flight to
challenge with a strong run
on the uphill climb to go clear
and score with a bit in hand.
Moore said: “He did it well.
He’s learning all the time and
is settling better in races.
I sat and waited, as I knew
from last time they would
come back to me.”
‘Lighthouse
Rose’
(16s
to 12/1) recorded a third
success at the course for
Sligo handler, Mark McNiff,
under an excellent front
running ride under amateur
rider, Oran McGill in the
mares handicap. A tightly
packed field for most of the
race saw favourite ‘Motown
Maggie’ make a very bad
mistake two out, with jockey
Jack Kennedy lucky to remain
in the saddle, however, the
winner asserted after the last
and went clear with the well
supported ‘April’s Joy’ filling
second.
McGill from County Antrim,
who rode a winner for his
BUMPER:
Right, ‘Moon
Rise Beauty’,
orange,
nearest,
landed the
Downpatrick
bumper, with
Patrick Mullins
partnering the
winner for his
father Willie.
(FW32-570SO)
father, Gary at Sligo on
Thursday said: “She was
good today, she got into
a nice rhythm early and
jumped and travelled. She
seems to love it around here
well. She loves climbing hills,
so that makes it a lot easier.
That’s three times she’s won
here now. Hopefully I can
keep things going, if every
week was as good as this, I’d
be very happy.”
The
John
McConnell
trained, ‘Rexem’ (6/4 to 5/6)
proved a different class
to rivals in the Magners
Hurdle. Omagh jockey, Simon
Torrens adopted similar
tactics to when the horse
won his bumper at the track,
setting off to make all and
was always in command.
Torrens said: “John said
he was well in himself at
home and saw this as an
opportunity for him, so stuck
him in.
“The step up in trip was no
problem and the only fear I
had today was if it was going
to come too soon. It rode a
good race in Galway, for that
time of year, and obviously
here was a lot weaker but he
did it nicely. Ben Harvey rode
him in his bumpers and he
was telling me beforehand
that even at home he’ll go
around like an old pony, but
as soon as he goes out on to
a racetrack, he kind of gets lit
up. I suppose that’s what you
want.”
‘Moon Rise Beauty’, trained
by Willie Mullins with son
Patrick aboard, was another
winner to make all and held
the challenge of runner
up ‘Moonovercloon’ in the
closing stages, with favourite
‘Nottodaybobo’ filling third
after finding no room behind
the principal pair in the last
hundred yards.
Mullins Junior said: “The
plan wasn’t really to make the
running, but she jumped and
she was enjoying herself in
front. She loved the track and
the ground. I’d imagine she’ll
improve over jumps as well.”
PHOTO FINISH: ‘Townhill Penny’, red/yellow, pictured in third,
kept on best to score in a three-way photo finish providing
jockey Jack Kennedy and trainer Gordon Elliott with doubles on
the day at Downpatrick. (FW32-569SO)
ABOVE
AVERAGE:
‘Rexem’ with
Omagh jockey
Simon Torrens,
looks an above
average horse
going forward
when opening
his account
over hurdles
for trainer, John
McConnell.
(FW32-566SO)
SUCCESS:
Right, Sligo
trainer Mark
McNiff leads
in ‘Lighthouse
Rose’,
following the
mare winning
for the third
time at the
Downpatrick
course.
(FW32-567SO)
HSI announces New York-based Charles Ancona as official apparel supplier to HSI’s Senior Olympic programmes
H
ORSE Sport Ireland (HSI) are
delighted to announce a new
sponsorship agreement with
international equestrian clothing
brand Charles Ancona.
Charles Ancona will become
the official supplier of clothing to
HSI’s Senior Olympic programmes
ahead of the upcoming ECCO FEI
World Championships in Herning,
Denmark. The partnership will
continue for the duration of the
current Olympic cycle, up to and
including Paris 2024.
The jackets are made using
innovative technical stretch fabrics
that provide both stylish looks and
high performance functionality.
On signing the agreement in New
York with Horse Sport Ireland Chief
Executive Denis Duggan, Charles
Ancona said: “I am delighted, and
excited to work with the Irish
Olympic riders and support them in
NEW SPONSOR: Horse Sport
Ireland CEO Denis Duggan, pictured
with Charles Ancona announcing
a new sponsorship agreement.
(FW32- 543NN)
their journey for competition glory.
I am confident that our Charles
Ancona show jackets and tail coats
will contribute to the continued
success and enhanced performance
from Ireland’s leading international
equestrian athletes as they compete
on the world stage.”
Denis Duggan flew out to Charles
Ancona’s headquarters and factory
in New York this week to finalise
the deal, a relationship that began
through Show Jumping High
Performance
Director
Michael
Blake.
Denis Duggan said: “HSI are
delighted to partner with world
leading equestrian supplier, Charles
Ancona, ahead of this year’s
World Championships and the
Dublin Horse Show. This is a very
exciting time for Irish equestrian
sport and the support of Charles
Ancona is a huge addition to the
Senior Olympic programmes. We
are looking forward to building a
strong collaborative partnership
with Charles Ancona and his team
as we prepare our teams for the
World Championships this week
and European Championships next
year, with all leading to Paris 2024.”
Charles Ancona jackets, described
as the ‘Ferrari of show jackets’ are
made using the finest Italian stretch
fabrics to provide both stylish looks
and high performance functionality.
Every Charles Ancona jacket is
machine washable, water repellent
and lightweight to help keep riders
cool on the hottest days.
Duggan added: “Charles Ancona’s
show jackets and tail coats are
renowned in the equestrian world
for their excellence in design,
craftsmanship and performance.
Horse Sport Ireland are very proud
to collaborate with Charles Ancona
as Official Supplier to the Senior
Irish Equestrian Olympic Teams. We
may be biased in our belief that we
have the best equestrian athletes
in the world, the best horses in the
world, and now we will be joined
the best show jacket and tailcoat
designer and manufacturer in the
world, Charles Ancona.”
About Charles Ancona
Each jacket’s design is fully
customizable and made to order in
New York City’s garment district.
With thousands of possible designs,
no two jackets are alike. Charles
Ancona take pride in designing and
manufacturing the highest quality
products for customers, which
include top riders such as: Brianne
Goutal, McLain Ward, Laura Chapot,
Jimmy Torano, Margie Engle, Dani
Goldstein, Sydney Schulman, Jeffrey
Welles and John French, and now
the Irish High Performance Olympic
teams in Show Jumping, Eventing
and Dressage.