Comfortable win for Tenspinhits

Quin trainer Brian Hassett hit the jackpot when sending out Tenspinhits (8/1) to land the five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden at last Sunday’s well-attended East Clare Harriers point-to-point fixture at Killaloe.
Ridden by Tipperary jockey Johnny King, this son of Oscar travelled strongly throughout, before drawing clear in the closing stages for a comfortable five-length success over runner-up, Another Flutter.
A fluent jumper, Tenspinhits is jointly owned by Limerick woman Edel Dore and Hassett, who remarked, “That was a very good display. I fancied him to run a huge race today, as he was working very well at home. He handled the soft ground okay and is a horse with a really bright future.”
In-form Derek O’Connor is the doyen of point-to-point riders on the circuit at present and he didn’t let his large band of supporters down when riding two winners.
The reigning champion, who had also visited the winners’ enclosure when steering the gambled-on Cankirk (4/1-1/1F) to victory in the six-year-old geldings’ maiden at the Kirkistown, County Down meeting 24 hours earlier, struck first in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden when he scored aboard the very impressive Castlerock Rose.
Sent off a strongly-supported 6/4 favourite, this mare by Presenting was always in command and simply toyed with the opposition before coming home a distance clear of second-placed Rosie O’Grady. The winner, who will contest the Gain Mares Final at Ballynoe later in the season, is trained in Middleton, County Cork by Dan Rohan.
O’Connor completed his double when gaining a share of the spoils with former champion John Thomas McNamara in the first division of the seven-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.
Punters were treated to a classic here as these two legendary jockeys fought out a terrific finish with McNamara aboard Souvenir Royal, trained in Ballinasloe, County Galway, by Shane Ryder, getting up in the shadows of the post to dead-heat with O’Connor aboard the Gareth Power-owned and trained Excellent As Usual.
McNamara went on to ride a second winner later in the afternoon when taking full advantage of a mishap by O’Connor’s mount, Nanos Witness, who fell at the final fence when in with a winning chance, handing the initiative to McNamara on the chasing Sher Fountin, who went on to score by 10 lengths.
Westmeath raider Sierra Lady looked a smart sort when claiming the opening winners’ race for the father and son combination of Richard and Ben Brabazon. Backed from 6/1 to 3/1, Sierra Lady kicked for home with two to jump and kept on in good style to beat Big Farmer, from Martin Cullinane’s Athenry yard, by six lengths.
Cork trainer, Bronwen Turner recorded her first winner as a trainer as Kildare jockey Ross O’Sullivan steered her 5/1 shot Mo Cuisle to success in the first division of the older mares’ maiden, while it was also a very important day for Limerick pilot David O’Riordan, who registered his first success in the saddle when bringing the John Boohan-trained Oyashecan (4/1) home in front in the second division.
Trainer Frances Slevin made the long trek from her County Meath yard worthwhile when sending out 4/1 chance Aprillo Ace, ridden by her brother Nigel, to claim the second division of the seven-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

James Nash Solicitor winners of one (three miles)
1. Bernard O’Reilly’s Sierra Lady b m (Bazanta-Lady Dreamer) 11-9 B Brabazon
2. M Cullinane’s Big Farmer 12-0 RP Geoghegan
3. M O’Meara’s The Rubber Man 12-0 J O’Meara
10 ran. Dist: 6l. 15L. Winner trained in County Westmeath by Richard Brabazon.

Coolagown Stud five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden (three miles)
1. Edel Dore’s Tenspinhits b g (Oscar-Golden Classic) 12-0 JJ King
2. Thomond Racing Syndicate’s Another Flutter 12-0 JT McNamara
3. Liam Cashman’s Cloudy Dawn 12-0 L Murphy
16 ran. Dist: 5L. 15L. Winner trained in Quin by Brian Hassett.
Teach Uí Bhriain five and six-year-old mares’ maiden (three miles)
1. Judy Cuddy’s Castlerock Rose b m (Presenting-Belgrave Girl) 12-0 D O’Connor
2. Virginia Lady Petersham’s Rosie O’Grady 12-0 R Quinlan
3. Joe Scallan’s Kilcrea Present 12-0 DJ Byrne
15 ran. Dist: Dist. Dist. Winner trained in County Cork by Dan Rohan.

Tom Marsh Plant Hire seven-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden, three miles (Division 1)
1. Gareth Power’s Excellent As Usual b g (Cape Cross-Muffle) 12-0 D O’Connor
1. Gerry Tierney’s Souvenir Royal ch g (Turgeon-Grand Souveraine) 12-0 JT McNamara
3. Seán Gallagher’s Quantico 12-0 S Gallagher
14 ran. Dist: Dead-heat. Dist. Excellent As Usual trained in County Kilkenny by Gareth Power. Souvenir Royal trained in County Galway by Shane Ryder.

Division 2
1. Rory Slevin’s Aprillo Ace b g (Kadeed-Brave Cherub) 12-0 N Slevin
2. Black & Whites Syndicate’s Flemen Loon 12-0 J Burke
3. Malachy Quinn’s Little Brazil 12-0 D O’Connor
14 ran. Dist: 20L. 1L. Winner trained in County Meath by Frances Slevin.

Bailey Meats seven-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden, three miles (Division 1)
1. Patrick Lordan’s Mo Cuisle b m (Woods Of Windsor-Sheltered) 12-0 R O’Sullivan.
2. Danny Trainor’s Lady Rinawa 12-0 JJ Smyth
3. Donal McLoughlin’s Cluain Abhann 12-0 A Murphy
11 ran. Dist: 8L. 10L. Winner trained in County Cork by Bronwen Turner.

Division 2
1. Morgan Feely’s Oyashshecan b m (Yashgan-Bicona Orlaw) 12-0 D O’Riordan
2. Camillus Slevin’s Bourbon Ellie 12-0 N Slevin
3. Seán Murphy’s Miss Sandyhill 12-0 JT McNamara
11 ran. Dist: 1265L. 10L. Winner trained in County Limerick by John Boohan.

Murphy’s Mechanical and Electrical Ltd mares’ open
1. Donal Barry’s Sher Fountin b m (Beau Silver-Rose Fountain) 12-0 JT McNamara
2. Camillus Slevin’s Blue Magneto 12-0 NT Slevin
3. Fergus O’Connor’s Hansel Monday 12-0 F O’Connor
14 ran. Dist: 10L. 20L. Winner trained in County Waterford by Seán Aherne.