Kilbane River successful for Sixmilebridge trainer

Sixmilebridge trainer Joe Quinn was among the winners at Limerick last Sunday, where his Kilbane River landed a tidy gamble when successful in the €14,500 Garryowen Handicap Chase.

The fact that Kilbane River had failed to visit the winner’s enclosure since scoring at Thurles back in 2008 didn’t deter his supporters, with the 10-year-old’s price tumbling from 7-1 into 4-1 prior to this three-mile contest.
Adrian Heskin, who was returning to action following an injury enforced six-month lay-off, rode a confident race aboard the son of Flying Legend, who improved into second place approaching the final fence before forging clear on the run-in to beat runner-up Conem by four-and-a-quarter lengths.
Quinn, who trains the winner for the six- member All Party Syndicate that includes former Clare County Councillor Joe O’Gorman Senior from Cratloe, remarked, “This horse always runs a respectable race and we thought he had a very handy weight on his back today. He jumped very well all through and Adrian gave him a great ride as he saved a good bit of petrol for the closing stages.”
Sunday’s feature was the Glenview Stud EBF Mares’ Beginners’ Chase, with victory here going to Paul Nolan’s Wexford raider Golden Sunbird (7-4).
Nolan has done particularly well with Jim Mernagh-owned mares over the years and this daughter of Bob Back, who suffered a crashing fall at Thurles on her previous outing, looked pretty useful when staying on best under Mikey Doran to beat 11-8 favourite Knockfierna by three parts of a length.
Meanwhile, there was also some top-class action at Navan on Sunday, where Big Zeb starred when landing the Grade 2 Fortria Chase for the third year in a row.
Colm Murphy’s 2010 Queen Mother Champion Chase winner faced just four opponents in this two-mile event and the 6-5 shot showed he has lost none of his sparkle when outpointing even-money favourite Noble Prince.
Robbie Power did the steering aboard Big Zeb, who turned in a fine round of fencing as he jumped to the front two out before fending off the Davy Russell-ridden runner-up on the uphill climb to the post for a two-length victory.
Murphy was thrilled with his charge’s display, nominating the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown (which he also won last year) as his next target before a return trip to Cheltenham in March.
Tom Cooper’s Forpadydeplasterer ran his best race for some time to fill third and, having disappointed badly on his return from a long lay-off at Punchestown last month, this was much more like it from the 2009 Arkle winner who may well oppose Big Zeb at Leopardstown again.
The Lismullen Hurdle was the other Grade 2 contest on the card at the Meath track and Voler La Vedette (2-1) initiated a double for Gorey-based Murphy when taking the spoils here.
A high-class mare on her day, the daughter of King’s Theatre came from well off the pace and only had to be pushed out on the run-in to beat Fully Funded by three lengths with 7-4 favourite Mikael D’Haguenet, who was returning to the smaller obstacles following a fruitless spell over fences, a big disappointment back in third.
Davy Russell rarely leaves a meeting empty-handed of late and he was on the mark in the Grade 3 For Auction Novice Hurdle, where he led home a 1-2 for in-form trainer Noel Meade when guiding 13-8 favourite IL Fenomeno to a cosy two-length victory over stablemate Dylan Ross.
Tony Martin’s Bog Warrior is another name for the notebook following his emphatic success in the two-mile Irish Stallion Farms Beginners’ Chase.
This well-backed 9-4 joint-favourite, who was giving jockey Russell and Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud a double following IL Fenomeno’s earlier success, turned in a super round of jumping when making every yard of the running to beat Flemenstar by seven lengths.
Martin described the Strategic Choice seven-year-old as ‘possibly the best I’ve ever had’ in his post-race comments, with the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse early next month now his likely target.

Robbie hits the right note at Dromahane

Spancilhill trainer Jason Titley saddled his first point-to-point winner of the new season when Robbie McMahon registered a comfortable success in the second division of the winners of one race at last Sunday’s Dromahane, County Cork meeting.
Victorious in a maiden at Belharbour last February, Robbie McMahon was making his first appearance since then in this 11-runner contest and the 6-4 favourite made no mistake under top jockey Derek O’Connor.
Sent to the head of affairs from the drop of the flag, the son of City Honours, who is named after famed Spancillhill balladeer Robbie McMahon and races in the colours of the 10-strong The Hill Syndicate, made short work of his rivals when coming home three lengths to the good over runner-up Leading The Life.
It was yet another good day for O’Connor at the popular Leeside track as he left the meeting with a total of four winners.
The talented 29-year-old, who was one of four people shortlisted for the 2011 Horse Racing Ireland point-to-point award when the nominees were announced last Monday, had earlier taken the second division of the opening four-year-old maiden aboard Pat Doyle’s smart-looking 4-1debutante, Kaki De La Pree.
He followed up that success when again teaming up with Tipperary-based Doyle to claim the second division of the following five-year-old maiden, where he was seen at his very best when forcing Saracco (3-1) up in the dying strides to beat Romeo Is Bleeding by a head.
O’Connor, who had ridden two winners at Marlin 24 hours earlier, took his tally for the season to 26 when completing his four-timer aboard 2-1 favourite Ask Me Sister in the second heat of the concluding mares’ maiden.
Front-running tactics were again employed by the reigning champion aboard this ex-track mare, who is owned and trained in Wicklow by Sean Osborne, with the pair just having enough in reserve to fend off runner-up Effortless by three lengths.

Punchestown DVD a must for jumping fans

Punchestown Racecourse is Ireland’s premier National Hunt track and the recently released DVD entitled Punchestown – Seeing Out The Distance captures everything that is good about jump racing at the Kildare track.
Beautifully narrated by Anna May Mullins, the production gives a revealing insight into the unique Punchestown Festival, both past and present and captures the glitz and glamour on and off the track of what is regarded as Ireland’s answer to Cheltenham.
General manager Dick O’Sullivan gives his particular take on what makes the annual festival such a success while top racing personalities like trainers Edward O’Grady, Noel Meade, Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls also feature.
Jockeys Barry Geraghty, Paul Townend, Conor O’Dwyer and Paul Carberry are interviewed while visits to Willie Mullins’ high-profile Carlow yard and Jim Dreaper’s stable are also very entertaining, as is an interview with leading owner JP McManus.
A special feature on legendary chaser Arkle provides a fascinating insight into the horse that captured the imagination of the nation at the height of his career and there is some rare footage of the wonderful chaser in action, not to mention a chat with former jockey Paddy Woods, who rode the wonder horse in his early races.
The programme looks back at many memorable moments including the first winner ever saddled by the late great Kilkenny trainer Paddy Mullins way back in 1953.  Three-time Champion Hurdle winner Istabraq is another big name to feature while that memorable ‘match race’ between Champion Chase winner Buck House and Gold Cup hero Dawn Run is also recalled.
The La Touche Cup is very much a part of Punchestown folklore and Waterford jockey Ken Whelan, who won this race three times aboard Risk Of Thunder, guides us around the unique four-mile course while giving his insight into the fences that make this one of the most prestigious races of the entire National Hunt season.
Every aspect of the festival, which is estimated to generate up to €70m annually for the Kildare area, is explored including the social scene in and around Naas during festival week.
Punchestown – Seeing Out The Distance is painstakingly put together and is a must-have for all jumping fans. To order a copy, visit www.bankostales.com or telephone 087 2285065.