O’Connor doesn’t do bank holiday rest

Broadford trainer, Joe Ryan has an exciting prospect on his hands in Turnandgo, who made a winning debut in the second division of the opening  four-year-old geldings’ maiden at last Saturday’s Tipperary Foxhounds point-to-point in Clonmel.
Ridden by top jockey, John Thomas McNamara, Turnandgo showed a nice turn of foot when quickening up impressively from the third-last fence to beat runner-up Capilla by eight lengths.
Ryan, who trains the victorious son of Morozov for his son, Joshua, said, “I’ve always thought the world of this horse. He is really tough and was by no means fully wound up for today. There is plenty scope for further improvement and he’ll probably go the upcoming Brightwells Sale at Cheltenham following today’s win.”
Sixmilebridge trainer Niall Kelleher has enjoyed a good season and the Cork native was on the mark with Vicky’s Lass in the winners’ race at Sunday’s East Galway Foxhounds meeting at Laurencetown, near Ballinasloe.
A fifth winner of the season for Quin jockey Paul O’Neill, Vicky’s Lass (5-1), found plenty in the closing stages to beat runner-up Wiseoverbury by half a dozen lengths.
Kelleher trains the winning daughter of Old Vic for Ballygarvan, County Cork pair John Walsh and Austin Downey. He said, “This mare had a touch of a sore shin after finishing third in the Gain Mares Final at Ballynoe and we gave her a short break. That seemed to freshen her up and she loved the good ground today. We’ll head to Kinsale over the June Bank Holiday weekend for the four-mile open race with her now.”

Back in form O’Connor dominates

Any notion that Derek O’Connor’s hunger for success might have been dimmed by his recent injury were dispelled as the reigning champion enjoyed a terrific bank holiday weekend in the saddle when recording eight wins in 72 hours to cement his position at the head of the riders’ table.
The Tubber man was on duty at Lisronagh near Clonmel on Saturday, where he kept his supporters happy when registering a hat-trick.
His first success came in the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, where he guided Liam Burke’s newcomer, Pirates Cay to victory.
A drifter in the betting ring from 6-4 out to 3-1, the son of Black Sam Bellamy was given a typically patient O’Connor ride when coming from off the pace to beat Timmy O’Sullivan’s Whole Nine Yards by five lengths.
“That was a fantastic ride by Derek and I don’t know why the rest of the lads don’t follow his example,” said an impressed Burke, who trains the winner for Waterford owner, Una Connors.
“Derek just sat there and let the others do the work. He allowed the horse get into a nice rhythm before pressing the button on him and that’s why he’s a class apart,” added the successful Mallow-based handler.
O’Connor’s second success at the Tipperary track came aboard another newcomer, as 5-2 favourite, Dunloughin made a winning debut for Cashel trainer Hillary McLoughlin and her partner national hunt jockey, Martin Ferris.
Settled in mid-division in the early stages, this Definite Article gelding jumped to the front at the final fence before running on best in the closing stages to beat Green Wizard by four lengths.
The O’Connor hat-trick was secured in the four-mile open lightweight as 7-1 chance Kaitlin’s Fancy, trained in County Waterford by Sean Aherne, stayed on best over this marathon trip to beat Richard Pugh’s House Of Bourbon by half a length.
O’Connor was on duty at Cork’s Dromahane meeting on Sunday afternoon, where he paid his first visit of the afternoon to the number one berth when guiding Robert Tyner’s Embracing Change to victory in the open lightweight.
Sent to the front from an early stage, 13-8 favourite Embracing Change was always holding too many guns for his six rivals and, in the end, had little trouble registering his fourth career success as he strode to a five-length win from Mr Dominator.
Half an hour later, O’Connor was back in the winner’s enclosure when bringing the well-backed Lettermacward (7-4) home in front in the six-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Trained in Carrigtwohill, County Cork by Terence O’Brien, Lettermacward poked his head in front on the uphill climb to the finish to beat Paul Tobin’s mount, Dungeel, by a length and a half.
Bank holiday Monday’s fixture was also on Leeside, where O’Connor again dominated when bagging a further three winners at the well-attended Muskerry Foxhounds session near Blarney.
Award-winning O’Connor’s opening success came in the first division of the opening four-year-old maiden, where he was seen at his best when bringing Robert Tyner’s Thats The Dream home a narrow winner.
The 6-4 winner made a bad mistake at the final fence but O’Connor quickly had the son of Beneficial back on an even keel, with the pair rallying in the run-in to beat Willie O’Neill’s Inch Manor by a head.
Tyner was also the provider of O’Connor’s second winner when the pair combined to land the first division of the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden with 7-2 shot, Brave Deed.
The successful six-year-old needed all of his rider’s urgings when just gaining the upper hand in the closing stages to beat Ballyness by a head.
O’Connor’s treble was completed in the winners’ race, where he joined forces with his near neighbour, Esther Wright, to score with 4-1 shot Inamalabalusaloon.
Wright, who works for the Noel Glynn/Jason Titley outfit in Spancilhill, trains this son of Luso at her home in Tubber for her boyfriend Declan O’Connor and she’s done a great job with the seven-year-old, who slaughtered his 14 rivals when powering clear from before two to beat runner-up Go Deimhin by 15 lengths.
The winner, who won his maiden at Ballingarry last season, is on the upgrade and, given that he seems to thrive on better ground, he looks the type that can score again before the season ends.

Archie follows up in Sligo

Archie Meade landed his second race in a row for Quin trainer Malachy Hassett and Miltown Malbay jockey Danny Howard when successful in the Kennedy’s Bar Hurdle at Sligo on Sunday.
Successful at a big price over three miles at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival, Archie Meade was well backed on this occasion, hardening from a morning show of 9-2 into 2-1 at the off.
Howard opted to make full use of his mount’s prowess as a stayer when sending the seven-year-old, who races in the colours of Spanish Point owner Ted O’Sullivan, to the front in his two-and-half-mile contest.
The pair were briefly headed at the fifth flight but Howard quickly had his mount back at the head of affairs and the pair dug deep on the run-in to hold the late surge of Tom McCourt’s 20-1 shot, Dr Deejay, by a head.
A delighted Howard remarked, “It wasn’t ideal dropping back in trip so I had to make it a test of stamina. He is really tough and dug deep all the way for me and, thank God, the line just came in time for us.”
Looking ahead to future targets, Howard added, “That’s it for him now and he’ll enjoy his summer out at grass. He’ll go over fences when he reappears in October and I’m hoping he’ll develop into a smart staying chaser, as he jumps great.”
Meanwhile, Aidan O’Brien dominance on the Flat continued over the weekend when the Ballydoyle maestro become the first trainer since 1942 to capture the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas in the same season on two occasions when completing a clean sweep at Newmarket over the weekend.
Camelot, ridden by O’Brien’s son Joseph, produced a dramatic burst to claim a late victory and maintain his unbeaten status in Saturday’s 2,000 Guineas.
O’Brien junior had many hearts fluttering as he weaved his way through aboard the 15-8 favourite, who flew home to beat French Fifteen by a neck.
While favourite backers were on good terms with themselves following Camelot’s success, the reverse was the case 24 hours later as Ballydoyle outsider Homecoming Queen sprung a 25-1 shock under Ryan Moore in the 1,000 Guineas.
Clear in a matter of strides, the unconsidered long-shot scorched her way over the one-mile trip, showing no signs of wilting before eventually crossing the line nine lengths ahead of second-placed Starscope. The winner’s better-fancied stable companion, 13-8 favourite Maybe, finished third a further length in the rear.