19th August 2021 - Flipbook - Page 95
HORSEWEEK
FARMWEEK
SEPTEMBER 23 2021
Treble for local trainers
at Downpatrick
By Shaun O’Dea
‘SO Near So Farhh’ (25s to 14/1) supplied
a local victory and landed a gamble in the
Franco Hughes Hurdle at Downpatrick last
Friday, September 17. Trained at Crossgar by
Colin McBratney and owned by Comber-based
James Murdoch Junior, the winner with James
O’Sullivan in the saddle, was always handy
prior to improving and leading at the last,
providing the trainer a third success with the
ex-Mick Channon trained mare having won four
times on the flat in Britain. Favourite ‘Dazzling
Darren’ had every chance and stayed on to fill
second.
McBratney said: “That was badly needed.
I’m well pleased for the owner and my staff.
Everybody needed it to give us a lift. We tried
everything with her - we have been holding
her up and we ran her on the Flat in Down
Royal to sharpen her a piece and she was just
outclassed. Today I said to James (O’Sullivan),
we have nothing to lose, jump out and be on the
premises the whole time and see what happens.
We hope the handicapper doesn’t go mad with
her and she will slip through somewhere again.
James is a great rider and talks a lot of sense
when he gets off.”
’Willyouwalkwithme’ and Shane Fitzgerald
aboard made all to score in the NI Course
Bookmakers Association Hurdle for veteran
owner and trainer, Harry Smyth. The Ballyclare
84-year-old was getting compensation with
his ‘Zagnzig’ having been denied in a photo
finish at Sligo on Wednesday. While the local
horse was following up success at the venue
in June, it always travelled with zest in front,
while the major gamble on ‘Edmond Dantes’
(10s to 2/1 favourite) flopped, with the horse
having improved second before two out, soon
floundering.
Smyth said: “That was a good, game effort.
Early on (in his career) he was 55 lengths
behind ‘Envoi Allen’, so he’s no fool. He has
ability. Today I thought would have been a bit
soft for him. Shane (Fitzgerald) gave him a good
ride. There was plenty of money for him this
morning - I probably started it, but it wasn’t all
mine. I’m 85 in another three weeks, but there
will be no partying, as I don’t drink. I have just
the three horses in training.”
The third local victory at the penultimate
fixture at the track this year came in the
handicap chase, when ‘Archies Charm’, trained
beside the course by Brian Hamilton, with
top jockey Bryan Cooper aboard, was a facile
winner and could be called the victor some way
from home. The local horse, which carried top
weight, was always close up before asserting
SUCCESS: ‘Ally Cay’ (Jack Gilligan) continued
at the successful strike rate of trainer, John
McConnell at the local venue. (FW38-573SO)
FINALE: ‘Top Bandit’
(Jamie Codd)
canter around the
Downpatrick course
to claim the finale for
trainer, Gordon Elliott.
(FW38-574SO)
OPENER: ‘Serenity
Grove’ (Darragh
O’Keefe) claimed
the opener at
Downpatrick.
(FW38-572SO)
three from home and duly bolted up for owner,
David Aiken, who operates the Castlewellan
based Herron Horse Feeds.
Hamilton said: “We thought we were fairly
handicapped. We thought the handicapper
would have given him a little bit more and we
wouldn’t have got in to a 0-109. We had him
entered in Sligo yesterday in a novice handicap
and he gave him 109, so we said we would take
a chance and run him in this instead of going
all the way to Sligo. It worked out grand. Bryan
(Cooper) said he jumped brilliantly and he has
sharpened up. Long-term, he could be an Ulster
National horse - that’s what we will try and aim
him for. I’d love to try and come back and win
the Ulster National (Hamilton won it previously
with the ill-fated ‘Chief Oscar’ in 2010).”
Trainer, Henry De Bromhead claimed the
opening contest with ex-point to pointer,
‘Serenity Grove’ (12s to 5/1) and jockey, Darragh
O’Keefe sent to excellent advantage. The
combination were left clear at the final flight,
as challenger ‘Wild Shot’, which was joining the
winner, slipped on landing and sprawled along
the ground on his belly prior to finishing third.
The locally trained, ‘The Banger Doyle’ (4s to
9/4) attempted to make finishing fourth, while
the eagerly awaited return to the saddle by dual
Grand National winning rider, Davy Russell absent through serious injury for almost a year
- filled the runner up spot on favourite, ‘The
Greek’.
O’Keeffe said: “He had a good run in a point-topoint when he fell at the last. He showed that
day that he had some bit of ability. He travelled
away and jumped great there today. Hopefully
he can step forward from today.”
The John McConnell trained, ‘Ally Cay’ with
Jack Gilligan aboard, proved the very easy
winner of the Bar One Novice Hurdle. Always
close up in running, the winner led two from
home and thereafter the race was always in
safe-keeping for connections and the trainer
further enhancing his record at the track.
McConnell said: “She’s a great little mare. She
loves it around here and obviously stays very
well. She has the flat speed to do them when
she needs to. She has turned inside out with the
hurdling and is unlucky not to be three from her
last three and will jump a fence in time. There’s
one more meeting here, so I will have to enter
the whole yard! The horses handle it well here
and I love it here.”
Davy Russell appeared set to ride a winner on his
return, when hitting the front three from home
in the Beginners Chase on ‘The Abbey’, but it
was his mount’s stable companion, ‘Hurricane
Georgie’ (7s to 100/30), which finished best on
the run in to prevail, providing trainer Gordon
Elliott with a one-two in the event.
Elliott said: “I’d say the weight kicked in up the
hill (on ‘The Abbey’). That was great. She was
solid over hurdles, but this race was made for
her, as she was getting all the allowances.”
The long odds-on favourite, ‘Top Bandit’
cantered around in front in the finale, with
Jamie Codd aboard and very readily dispelled
would-be challengers to score, pulling up and
supplying trainer, Gordon Elliott with a double.
Polo match takes reins of
Balmoral main arena
THIS year, the Balmoral Show in partnership
with Ulster Bank, welcomes an equine Polo
Exhibition display to the Main Arena on
Friday, September 24.The Northern Ireland
Polo Club, organisers of the tournament, will
be showcasing the ‘Game of Kings’ amongst
their equestrian peers at this year’s Balmoral
Show.A spokesperson from the Northern
Ireland Polo Club commented: “The format
will consist of five teams of three players in
a knock-out competition, fielding players of
various strengths, gender and age, as this
is one of the most all-inclusive team games
in the world.“We want to see spectators get
behind their chosen teams and get involved
in the excitement and adrenaline and spirit
of our sport. The noisier the better!“Let
other people play at other things, the game
of Kings is still the king of games!”
The Balmoral Show is taking place
Saturday, September 25 at Balmoral Park,
Lisburn. Tickets must be purchased online
in advance at www.balmoralshow.co.uk.
Conditions of entry can be found online at
www.balmoralshow.co.uk.
GAME OF KINGS: Pictured ahead of the Polo
Exhibition being held at Balmoral Show on
Friday, September 24 are, from left, Jamie
McCarthy, NIPC Polo Manager; Ian McCulla;
Vickie White, RUAS and James Donnelly.
(FW38-501NN)
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REGISTERED IRISH DRAUGHT SALE
HANDICAP HURDLE:
‘Willyouwalkwithme’
(Shane Fitzgerald)
made all the running
to score in the
handicap hurdle
at Downpatrick for
veteran Ballyclare
trainer, Harry Smyth.
(FW38-571SO)
• Must have confidence in handling
and riding a variety of horses.
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Foals, Yearlings, 2YO’s & Older,
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Coolminga Inspector Royal, winning the 1.35 National Young Rider League Final at
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Photograph by JumpInaction.net Photography
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Outstanding Results
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