Powerstation lights up winner’s circle

Powerstation, part-owned by well-known Clarecastle bookmaker Neil Casey, rolled back the years when running out a 14/1 (28.70 on the tote) winner of the feature Grade C Proudstown Handicap Hurdle at Navan last Saturday.
Without a win since scoring at Killarney 19 months earlier, Powerstation, who runs in the colours of the 13-strong Fat Frog Syndicate, has been a great servant having placed three times at the Cheltenham Festival and third twice to the mighty Big Buck’s in the World Hurdle.
Hollycross amateur Johnny King was on board the now 11-year-old on Saturday and he had the son of Anshan in contention at the third last flight in this stamina-sapping two-mile, seven-furlong test, which was run on soft to heavy ground.
King’s mount improved to lead before the last but, having been headed briefly by eventual runner-up He’llberembered at the final flight, the teak-tough Powerstation really stuck his neck out on the stiff uphill climb to the line at the Navan course to beat that rival by a length-and-a-half.
Eamon O’Connell, who trains the seven-time winner at his Cullen, Tipperary yard said, “I knew he was in good form as he ran well the last day when third at Clonmel. Even though he is 11, he is still a fresh little horse and is as honest as the day is long. He has gone up six pounds for Sunday’s win to 141, but there is no point in going to England with him as he’s rated a stone higher over there.”
Outlining plans for his stable star, O’Connell continued, “I’ve entered him for the Tara Hurdle over two and a half miles back at Navan on Sunday and we’ll see how that race is shaping up come declaration time on Friday. The Woodies DIY Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas is also an option.”

Fifth HRI award for O’Connor
The 2011 Horse Racing Ireland award winners were announced at Leopardstown Racecourse last Monday and, not surprisingly, Tubber’s Derek O’Connor scooped the point-to-point accolade for the fifth time.
The 29-year-old’s exploits between the flags have been nothing short of sensational over the past decade and he was presented with his award at Monday’s ceremony by Simon Coveney, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
O’Connor has ridden over 750 winners in total, claimed the last eight jockey’s titles in a row and, for good measure during a memorable 2011, broke his Cheltenham Festival duck last March when guiding Gordon Elliott’s Chicago Grey to victory in the four-miler, before quickly adding to his Prestbury Park tally with Zemsky in the Foxhunter’s Chase.
Without argument, O’Connor is the best amateur rider this country has ever produced. His prowess in the saddle has seen him emulate the feats of former greats like Enda Bolger, Tony Martin and Ted Walsh and he has rewritten the history books in a major way since he rode his first winner aboard the Pat Lynch-trained Rossy Orchestra as a rookie 17-year-old at Killaloe back in 2000.
The final pre-Christmas pointing action of 2011 took place at Dungourney in East Cork where O’Connor was among the winners when guiding Eugene O’Sullivan’s Pals Leg (4/1) to victory in the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, leaving him on the 30-winner mark (19 clear of nearest rival Declan Queally) as the season comes to a halt until the Dromahane, Cork meeting on New Year’s Eve.
Champion Hurdle hero, Hurricane Fly, was crowned Horse of the Year at Monday’s awards ceremony with his trainer Willie Mullins claiming the National Hunt award.
Nina Carberry made it a great day for amateur jockey’s, as the Meath woman picked up the Outstanding Achievement Award for landing the Irish Grand National aboard her uncle Arthur Moore’s Organisedconfusion.
Not surprisingly, the Flat award went to all-conquering Aidan O’Brien while Dermot Weld, who saddled a record-breaking 17 winners at this year’s Galway Festival, was honoured with the Contribution to the Industry Award.

Light shines in Durkan Chase
Rubi Light underlined his potential as a top chaser when running his rivals ragged to land the Grade 1 John Durkan Chase at Punchestown on Sunday.
Robbie Hennessy’s six-year-old had been most unfortunate when tripping up at the last at Gowran Park (where he had Sizing Europe beaten) on his seasonal debut in October, but Andrew Lynch’s mount made no mistake this time round, turning in a terrific display.
Sent into the lead at halfway, the 5/2 joint-favourite seemed to really enjoy himself as he surged clear over the final four fences to beat fellow joint-favourite Joncol by five lengths.
Cooldine, who made the early running under Ruby Walsh, was left third following the final fence exit of Roi Du Mee with outsider Trafford Lad fourth. Edward O’Grady’s Tranquil Sea, who was bidding for back-to-back victories in this two and a half-mile contest, disappointed and was pulled up, when well out of contention by Barry Geraghty, just before the final fence.
Dublin native Hennessy, who tasted big-race success in the past with the now retired Sublimity, trains Rubi Light for his father Bill at their Ratoath, County Meath yard.
He said, “That was fantastic. We had to miss the JN wine Chase with him as he was sick but he’s been working really well for the past two weeks. Andrew said he got a little bit tired out there which is understandable but he loved the (soft) ground and we all know how well he can jump.”
While Sunday’s display opens up many doors for the French-bred, Hennessy confirmed that he will step his exciting son of Network up to three miles for the first time at Leopardstown over Christmas.
“We’ll look at the Lexus Chase now for Rubi Light. It should tell us if he gets three miles and whether his is a Gold Cup horse or not. If he doesn’t stay, he’ll go back to Cheltenham for the Ryanair Chase. He was third there last March to Albertas Run and he obviously likes the place, so it would be great if we had a Gold Cup horse,” confirmed the former amateur rider.
Elsewhere on the card at the County Kildare track, the good run of trainer Michael Hourigan’s horses continued when Gigginstown House representative Crash (7/2) scored in the two and a half-mile Beginners’ Chase.
This was the perfect tonic for jockey Adrian Heskin, who was in hot water with the stewards at Cheltenham 48 hours earlier where he was hit with a harsh 12-day ban for taking the wrong course aboard the locally-owned A New Story in a dramatic Cross County Chase at the Cotswolds venue.
Cork-born Heskin is a cool customer, however, and he quickly put that mishap behind him when bringing the son of Milan, who won his only start in a point-to-point at Dromahane as a four-year-old, with a well-time challenge to beat front-running Quietly Fancied by a length and a half.
Punters witnessed another good performance in the Listed INH Owners Novice Hurdle where Jim Culloty’s 4/1 shot, Lord Windamere upstaged evens favourite Dylan Ross when beating that rival by a neck.
Tom Doyle is a most underrated jockey and he was seen at his best here when keeping the successful son of Oscar going close home to beat Noel Meade’s market leader by a head.
The winner, who carries the silks of Dermot Weld’s main patrons Dr Ronan Lambe, can be followed to good effect with three-time Gold Cup-winning jockey Culloty predicting ‘a big future’ for his charge when he goes chasing next autumn.

Silver handed Cork feature
Willie Mullins may be sweeping all before him with his powerful string at the present, but even he would have to admit that his Golden Silver was a lucky winner of the featured (Grade 2) Hilly Way Chase at Cork last Sunday.
Punters sent this Violet O’ Leary-owned nine-year-old off 2/7 favourite to account for his four rivals in this €37,000 two-miler, but those who held dockets at those kind of odds must have been pulling their hair out as Tony Martin’s 25/1 outsider Osiramix approached the final fence with a five-length lead.
Robbie Moran’s mount, who had fenced impeccably to this point, appeared set for victory but, as they say, fences are there to be jumped and Osiramix certainly paid the price when, having failed to take off for the final time, he crashed out.
His departure left Golden Silver in command with Emmett Mullins bringing the fortunate favourite home to beat runner-up Hughies Grey by 28 lengths.
Noel Glynn’s Becasueicouldntsee ran a good race to finish third which will please his Spancilhill trainer who has earmarked the valuable Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown on December 27 – a race he finished second in last year – as the eight-year-old’s main mid-season target.
Charles Byrnes was out of luck when his Sea Of Thunder fell at the final flight when looking a likely winner at Cheltenham on Saturday, but the Ballingarry handler bounced back in the best possible fashion when saddling two winners at the Mallow track.
Byrnes struck first in the opening corkracecourse.ie two-mile maiden hurdle. his well-backed Davy Russell-ridden 4/9 favourite Trifollum had no more than to canter to beat Firebird Flyer by 24 lengths in the maroon and white silks of top owner Michael O’Leary.
Russell and Byrnes went to complete their double with 5/4 favourite Knockfierna in the Grade 3 Lombardstown Mares’ Novice Chase.