Corks popped for O’Connor’s success

Derek O’Connor was the toast of punters at last Sunday’s well-attended County Clare Hunt meeting at Quakerstown where the Tubber rider rode the opening three winners.

 

The nine-time champion was quickly into his stride when guiding the Pat Doyle-trained 9/10 favourite Behemoth to victory in the opening O’Grady’s Bar, Tubber four-year-old maiden.

Racing in the silks of Michael O’Leary’s powerful Gigginstown House operation, this son of Presenting was always in the front rank and wasn’t overly extended when staying on best in the closing stages to beat Enda Bolger’s Be Positive by three lengths.

The winner, who was purchased at the Breeze-Up sales at Cheltenham in November, will now more than likely head to the track.

The Doyle/O’Connor alliance were also on the mark in the following O’Sullivan’s Hotel, Gort five-year-old geldings’ maiden when scoring with well-supported even-money favourite Measureofmydreams.

The winner, part-owned by Doyle’s UK-based jockey son Jack Doyle, was being challenged by Paul Gilligan’s newcomer Guiding George when that rival fell at the final fence leaving the market leader clear to beat runner-up Lough Derg Island by four lengths.

O’Connor’s third winner was a hugely popular one with the locally-owned Wareeds Tune scoring in the Patricia Lynch Memorial ITBA mares’ maiden for the five-strong Kiltartan Syndicate.

Trained just a stone’s throw from the track by John Staunton, the 7/2 shot benefitted from a superb ride by O’Connor when forging clear in the latter stages for a seven-length success over Cork raider Corporate Box.

This victory was greeted with loud cheers as the successful syndicate is made up of Brendan Glavin, John Forde, Paddy Fahy, Gerry Finnerty and Patsy Lynskey who are all well-known in the north Clare/south Galway area.

Newmarket-on-Fergus trainer John Costello has his horses is serious form at present and the Fenloe man continued his good run when saddling newcomer Doing Fine (3/1) to land the concluding Hassett Considine Solicitors confined maiden.

Brian Hassett’s 6/4 favourite Bravehearted Harry looked set to score here when hitting the front for Derek O’Connor on the run to the final fence, but Tipperary jockey Johnny King was getting a big response from Doing Fine, who came home best to beat O’Connor’s mount by a head.

King had earlier initiated a riding double when taking the first division of the O’Neill Bookmakers, P & N Casey and Dinny Gould Bookmakers older horses maiden in bizarre circumstances.

Bendala Bleu, trained by Brian Hassett, appeared to have this contest in the bag when forging to the front with three to jump, but he failed to jump the second last fence due to some confusion at that obstacle and, while he passed the post in front, he was later disqualified in favour of the second home Pinsandneedles.

Trained in Offaly by George Webb, Pinsandneedles was returned at 10/1 and carries the silks of Nenagh farmer Mortimer Gleeson.

Galway jockey Brendan McDonagh was also in double form with the 20-year-old from Moycullen riding a very cool race when taking the Gort Mart & Gerry Finnerty winners’ race aboard 8/1 shot All Or Now.

Dropped out in the early stages, All Or Now, who is owned and trained in Loughrea by Ray Healy, came with a late, late effort to pip Norman Lee’s Rebel Cry by a length.

McDonagh completed his double when steering 12/1 outsider Eurourmrlucky to victory in the second leg of the older horses maiden.

Unplaced on his three earlier runs, this son of Classic Cliché, who is trained in Oranmore by PJ Costello, left that form well behind when, having hit the front four out, he made the best of his way home to beat Michael Hourigan’s Fine Presentation by three lengths.

Results
Four-year-old maiden – 3 miles
1. Behemoth (IRE)
2. (3L) Be Positive (IRE)
3. (2.5L) Up For Review (IRE)
4. (6L) Lucky Cody (IRE)
Trainer: P M J Doyle
Jockey: Derek O’Connor
Owner: Gigginstown House Stud.

Five-year-old geldings’ maiden – 3 miles
1. Measureofmydreams (IRE)
2. (4L) Lough Derg Island (IRE)
3. (5L) Entry To Everywhere (IRE)
4. (6L) Lion’s Choice (IRE)
Trainer: P M J Doyle
Jockey: Derek O’Connor
Owner: Gerard Anthony Spain.

Five and six-year-old mares’ maiden
1. Wareeds Tune (IRE)
2. (7L) Corporate Box (IRE)
3. (15L) Senators Glory (IRE)
4. (8L) Ourbrightbluerose (IRE)
Trainer: J Staunton
Jockey: Derek O’Connor
Owner: Brendan Glavin.

Winners of one – 3 miles
1. All Or Now (IRE)
2. (1L) Rebel Cry (IRE)
3. (hd) Paddysparks (IRE)
4. (6L) Kilene Brook (IRE)
Trainer: Ray P Healy
Jockey: B McDonagh
Owner: Ray P Healy.

Six-year-old and upwards maiden – 3 miles
1. Pinsandneedles (GB)
2. (20L) Its Sorted (IRE)
3. (2L) Tellmeda (IRE)
4. Boher Call (IRE)
Trainer: G Webb
Jockey: J J King
Owner: Mortimer Gleeson.

Division Two
1. Eurourmrlucky (IRE)
2. (3L) Fine Presentation (IRE)
3. (0.5L) Hit The Top (IRE)
4. (6L) Flying Fairy (IRE)
Trainer: PJ Costello
Jockey:B McDonagh
Owner: PJ Costello & Sally Fair.

Confined maiden – 3 miles
1. Doing Fine (IRE)
2. (hd) Bravehearted Harry (IRE)
3. (8L) Stop N Stare (IRE)
4. (1L) Iouascore (IRE)
Trainer: John J Costello
Jockey: JJ King
Owner: Erika Costelloe.