Quin jockey off to a winning start

Quin jockey, Paul O’Neill opened his account for the season when riding the first winner of the day at last Sunday’s West Waterford Hunt point-to-point meeting at Boulta in East Cork.
A very experienced pilot, O’Neill was aboard 8-1 shot Definite Memories in the first division of the opening four-year-old maiden for Wexford trainer, Pat Cloke and the pair came good when registering a very impressive success.
Help up in the early stages, the daughter of Definite Article, who was making her debut, knew the job very well and having jumped to the front two out she ran on really strongly to beat runner-up Eugene O’Sullivan’s Lady Milano by four lengths.
Enniscorthy native, Cloke, who has care of the winner for his brother, Tom, said, “Paul gave this mare a great ride. He is one of the most underrated jockeys in the country and I get him to ride my horses all the time. He’s a very good horseman and is especially good with the difficult ones. This mare wasn’t difficult as we think she’s well above average. She will more than likely be going to the Brightwells Sale in Cheltenham next week.”
Explaining a further connection to the Banner County, Cloke continued, “My uncle, the late Jackie Cullen, was stable jockey to Newmarket-on-Fergus trainer, Tom Costello for over 20 years and the two enjoyed some wonderful moments together, including the success of Tartan Ace in the 1973 Irish Grand National. My brother, Larry, worked for the Costellos as well and we used to be up and down to his place, so we got to know the O’Neill’s, who are great racing people.”
Eight-times point-to-point champion Derek O’Connor, who drew a rare blank at Boulta on Sunday, will be on hand at the Crescent Shopping Centre in Limerick this Thursday evening (December 1) to help launch the ­upcoming four-day Limerick Christmas Racing Festival, which runs from December 26 to 29.
The Tubber rider will be joined by colleagues, Brian O’Connell, Ken Whelan and Andrew McNamara on what is known as a ride to Cheltenham evening during which the public can test their skills aboard a horse simulator. All funds raised will go to Pieta House and the Injured Jockeys’ Fund with action on what promises to be a fun-filled evening taking place between 4pm and 7pm. All are welcome. 

McManus’ day at Navan

The familiar green and gold silks of leading owner, JP McManus were to the fore at Navan on Sunday, where a treble for the Limerick native was highlighted by the success of his 10/1 shot Groody Hill in the Ladbrokes.com Troytown Chase.
A good winner of his two previous starts over shorter distances at Wexford and Punchestown, Groody Hill appeared to have it all to do in this €80,000 three-miler when jumping the final fence well adrift of Cross Appeal and Ad Idem.
When Pauline Gavin’s Ad Idem hit the front following a mistake by Cross Appeal at the last it looked as if Brian Hayes’ mount was going to give his Craughwell trainer a big pay day but Alan Crowe had other ideas as he galvanised Groody Hill for one last effort.
There is a stiff uphill finish at Navan and this really suited the winner, who stuck his neck out in game fashion to sweep past Ad Idem in the shadows of the post for an unlikely half-a-length success.
Roche’s horses have been really flying of late and the former 16-time Irish Flat jockey  champion trains a small string on the Curragh, mostly for McManus, whose racing manager, Frank Berry, outlined, “I thought he was only going to be third jumping the final fence but in fairness, he kept at it well and loved that soft ground, which is a big plus. He jumped well and Alan gave him a great ride. If he gets into the Paddy Power Chase over Christmas, that’s where he’ll go next.”
Earlier at the County Meath track, Wicklow trainer, Francis Flood had supplied McManus with his opening winner of the afternoon as the well-backed Down Under scored under Mark Walsh in the Dunderry Handicap Hurdle.
Everybody knows that McManus likes to have a tilt at the ring now and then and when Down Under’s price tumbled from 8/1 into 11/4 favourite, it was an ominous sign, with the son of Milan looking a nice prospect when staying on best of all to beat runner-up Johnny Two Keys by five lengths.
Formidableopponent looked a nice prospect when winning his maiden at Lemonfield point-to-point last March for northern trainer, Warren Ewing and, having been subsequently purchased by McManus, the 11/8 favourite underlined his potential when taking the two-mile maiden hurdle in good style.
Now with Noel Meade, the four-year-old won his bumper over this track a fortnight earlier and he took to the jumping game here with the minimum of fuss when surging clear under Paul Carberry to defeat Mount Colah by three and a quarter lengths.
The Grade 2 Irish Form Book Monksfield Novice Hurdle was an informative affair with victory in this two-and-a-half-mile test going to Gordon Elliott’s 5/2 shot Mount Benbulben.
Ruby Walsh tried to stretch his rivals from the front here aboard Michael Winters’ hat-trick seeking Rebel Fitz but Davy Condon had timed his effort to perfection when sweeping to the front close home aboard the Barry Connell-owned Mount Benbulben to score by a length and a half.
The winner is a good horse and will probably reappear somewhere over the upcoming festive racing period.

Carruthers lands Hennessy

Carruthers was rewarded for his consistency when the 10/1 shot came good to land the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.
Owned and bred by 82-year-old former amateur jockey, John Oaksey – better known as Lord Oaksey – Carruthers was something of a ‘nearly’ horse until Saturday when he put the record straight under a very good ride from Mattie Bachelor.
Fourth to Imperial Commander in the 2010 Gold Cup, Carruthers has struggled somewhat to find his form in the interim but he came good at precisely the right time.
A confirmed front-runner, Carruthers had to wait a little longer than expected to get to the front in Saturday’s race but, once he did, he fought off all comers to beat Planet Of Sound by three-and-three-quarter lengths.
Winning trainer, Mark Bradstock nominated the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow on December 27 as Carruthers’ next outing.
As expected, Paul Nicholls’ super stayer, Big Buck’s had his by now customary walk in the park when sluicing home in the Grade 2 Sportingbet Long Distance Hurdle.
Ruby Walsh hardly moved a muscle aboard Andy Stewart’s 1/8 favourite, who, once he kicked for home early in the straight, had everything in behind labouring before passing the post five lengths ahead of stablemate Five Dream.
Big Buck’s is the nearest thing to a certainty, all going well, for a fourth World Hurdle success in a row come Cheltenham Festival time next March.
Meanwhile, Donald McCain continues to enjoy a great run and his teak-tough Overturn lowered the colours of 2010 champion hurdler Binocular in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday.
Fresh from a second chasing success with Peddler’s Cross at Bangor earlier in the day, McCain, jockey Jason Maguire and owner Tim Leslie were helicoptered to Newcastle where Galway Hurdle winner Overturn (7/4) did them proud when making  all the running. Heading towards the final fight, it appeared as if Tony McCoy was going to pounce on 5/4 favourite Binocular but Overturn is a tough customer and he battled like a lion to repel McCoy’s challenge by an emphatic four-and-a-half lengths.