And they’re off…

Tubber’s Derek O’Connor stole the show when riding a terrific four-timer at last Sunday’s well-attended East Clare Harriers’ point-to-point at Garranboy, Killaloe.

 

Tubber’s Derek O’Connor stole the show when riding a terrific four-timer at last Sunday’s well-attended East Clare Harriers’ point-to-point at Garranboy, Killaloe.
Rescheduled from the previous Sunday due to water logging, conditions on the lush Flynn family lands could not have better this time round following a week of great drying and, as a result, pointing fans were treated to a superb day’s racing.
Bang-in-form O’Connor, who had tasted a success aboard Family Official in the open lightweight at Kildorrerry 24 hours earlier, wasted little time in getting into full flow when taking the opening six-year-old mares’ maiden aboard even-money favourite Lady Cloudings.
Trained in Kinsale by Robert Tyner for fellow Corkman Michael Hurley, Lady Cloudings was always prominent, but had to pull out all the stops to withstand a spirited challenge from runner-up Viewvic with just a neck separating the pair at the line.
With O’Connor off to the perfect start, his confidence was high and the nine-time champion displayed all his renowned strength when taking the following winners of two races aboard the Andrew Kennedy-trained Back Door Approach.
Having jumped to the front two out, the 4/5 favourite looked set for a cosy success but a slow jump at the final fence left the market leader with a fight on his hands as the Jamie Codd-ridden Soweheard bore down on him. O’Connor was not to be denied, however, as he rousted his mount who rallied in the final strides to prevail by a neck.
The winner is trained by Kennedy at his Killenaule, County Tipperary stables for wife Anna and he will now be aimed at a hunter’s chase.
O’Connor teamed up with Croom, County Limerick trainer Andrew McNamara for winner number three as 6/4 favourite Twentyeleven did punters a favour in the second division of the older mares’ maiden.
A good second at Nenagh on her previous start, Twentyeleven was given a positive ride by O’Connor who sent the daughter of City Honours clear from two out to beat Rosie’s Aces by eight lengths.
Having hit the 10 bookmakers on duty hard with all of his three previous winners, O’Connor actually did the layers a favour when completing his four-timer in fortunate circumstances aboard 9/2 shot Givemeabuzz in the concluding mares’ open.
Derg Princess appeared to have this six-runner contest in the bag when taking off with a two-length lead at the final fence, but the Jamie Codd-ridden 8/11 favourite crumbled on landing leaving Givemeabuzz, who is owned and trained at Lough Gur, County Limerick by Seamus Murnane, clear to beat Mandy Carroll by four lengths.
Codd may have been out of luck in the finale, but he had earlier ridden two winners with the first of those coming aboard 4/5 favourite Rockdown in the five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Trained in County Meath by Gordon Elliott for the powerful Gigginstown House operation, Rockdown showed the benefit of his debut outing when second at Nenagh as he pulled out more in the closing stages to beat Wicklow raider Make Me A Fortune by two lengths.
Wexford-born Codd completed his brace when teaming up with Cork trainer Michael Winters to claim the older geldings’ maiden with the nicely-supported Coolykereen Castle (5/2-6/4).
Sent to the front before the home bend, this son of Windsor Castle was not going to be denied as he forged clear to beat Martin Cullinane’s Galway raider Ed’s Legacy by half a dozen lengths.
The battle between Codd and O’Connor for this season’s leading rider award looks like it is going to go right down to the wire and, following a good set-to between the pair at Killaloe, Codd holds a slender one-winner (35-34) advantage heading into what is another 48 hours of hectic action next weekend.
Charleville native Barry John Foley was the only other jockey bar Codd and O’Connor to ride a winner at the meeting and his success came courtesy of 4/1 shot Hill Rock in the first division of the older mares’ maiden.
Trained down in Tallow, County Waterford by Noel Henley for Mullingar cattle dealer Noel Collins, Hill Rock responded gamely to her rider’s urgings when quickening up nicely on the run-in to deny Lady Gamble by a length and a half.

Results
Going: soft
East Clare Hunt six-year-old mares’ maiden – 3 miles
1. Lady Cloudings (IRE); 2. nk Viewvic (IRE); 3. 7L Blue Bell Walk (IRE); 4. 14L Ourbrightbluerose (IRE)
Trainer: Robert Tyner
Jockey: Derek O’Connor
Owner: Michael Hurley

Pat Jones, Liam O’Halloran, Pat & Michael Minogue
winners of two – 3 miles
1. Back Door Approach (IRE); 2. nk Soweheard (IRE); 3. 2 ½L Finish The Story (IRE); 4. 2 ½L The Breathalyser (IRE)
Trainer: A J Kennedy
Jockey: Derek O’Connor
Owner: Mrs A J Kennedy

East Clare Hunt five & six-year-old geldings’ maiden – 3 miles
1. Rockdown (IRE); 2. 2L Make Me A Fortune (IRE); 3. 4L Halls Bridge (IRE); 4. 8L Castle Ellen Wood (IRE)
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: J J Codd
Owner: Gigginstown House Stud

Teach Ui Bhriain, Paul
Kilkenny seven-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden  – 3 miles
1. Coolykereen Castle (IRE); 2. 6L Ed’s Legacy (IRE); 3. 1 ½L Gort An Chnoic (IRE); 4. 6L Busted Halo (IRE)
Trainer: Michael Winters Jockey: J J Codd
Owner: Tony Winters

Jim & Robert Bailey Meats seven-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden. (Div 1) – 3 miles
1. Hill Rock (IRE); 2. 1 ½L Lady Gamble (IRE); 3. 2L Bingo Bash (IRE); 4. 1 ½L Suzie Lightning (IRE)
Trainer: Noel Henley
Jockey: B J Foley
Owner: Noel Collins

Division 2
1. Twentyeleven (IRE); 2. 8L Rosie’s Aces (IRE); 3. 18L Winters Dreame (IRE); 4. ½L Days Of Glory (IRE)
Trainer: A J McNamara
Jockey: Derek O’Connor
Owner: Mrs A J McNamara

CSGL Electrical, Stephen Kerin & Clare Refrigeration mares’ open – 3 miles
1. Givemeabuzz (IRE); 2. 4L Mandy Carroll (IRE); 3. 3L Solid Concrete (IRE); 4. 5L Rotorua (GB)
Trainer: Seamus Murnane
Jockey: Derek O’Connor
Owner: Seamus Murnane