The classy Mallowney recorded his sixth and easily most valuable success when landing the €100,000 Underwriting Exchange Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse on Sunday. Trained by Tim Doyle in Moyne, County Tipperary, the nine-year-old won by an easy 10 lengths under Davy Russell from the well supported favourite Bright New Dawn. Cheltenham is not on the agenda for the winner who will be aimed at the €45,000 Grade 2 Newlands Chase at Naas next month before heading to the Punchestown festival. Tony McCoy partnered the Willie Mullins-trained Florishwells D’Ete to win the 2m1f beginners’ chase and owner JP McManus had an earlier winner as the Eoin Griffin-trained Rathpatrick and Mark Walsh proved too strong for the McCoy-ridden Oscar Knight in the 2m maiden hurdle. The opening four-year-old maiden hurdle went to Noel Meade’s Officieux who ran out an easy winner for Paul Carberry. The father and son team of Tom and Pat Foley landed the 2m handicap hurdle as Might Be Magic go up close home to win by just a head from Go Anna Go. Mouse Morris and David Casey won the rated novice chase with Dromnea while the Willie Mullins-trained Au Quart De Tour and Patrick Mullins scored an impressive bumper success.
Douvan In A Class Of His Own At Punchestown
Douvan, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Ruby Walsh, was a most impressive winner of the Grade 2 sportinglife.com Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Saturday. In the colours of Susannah Ricci, the five-year-old scored an effortless success in the €40,000 contest and is now the clear favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. Mullins and Walsh had earlier taken the beginners’ chase with Jarry D’Honneur who was a good winner in the famous JP McManus silks. The opportunity handicap chase was won by the Pat Fahy-trained Treacy’s Star who scored a comfortable success under Brian Hayes. The historic Conyngham Cup went to the Declan Queally-trained Portrait King who won with plenty in hand for Athy trainer Maurice Phelan. Gillian Callaghan saddled Mount Corkish Girl to win the 2m maiden hurdle under Keith Donoghue. Robbie Colgan and Oliver McKiernan combined to win the 3m handicap hurdle with Lean Araig and the winning rider completed the only double of the day when taking the 2m4f rated hurdle on the Gordon Elliott-trained Noble Endeavour.
Sharjah Claims Fifth Win At Dundalk
The Andy Slattery-trained Sharjah landed his fifth Dundalk success when taking the 12f handicap on the all-weather on Friday. With Donnacha O’Brien in the saddle, the five-year-old battled well to see off the challenge of Canon Law to win by a neck. Togoville gave County Armagh-based Georgios Pakidis his second Dundalk success when easily taking the rated race under Gary Carroll. Declan McDonogh landed the 5f handicap on Rigid Rock, trained by Ado McGuinness. Shane Donohoe and Leigh Roche combined to win the 7f maiden with Charlie Bear who scored a three-and-a-half length win from Period Piece. Seamus Heffernan rode the John Joseph Murphy-trained to a comfortable success in the 7f handicap while over a furlong further Colin Keane and Ger Lyons teamed up to win with Tennessee Wildcat. The amateur riders’ handicap went to Havelock Ellis, trained by Johnny Levins and ridden by Paul O’Neill.
First Listed Success For Trainer Jerry Cosgrave
Jerry Cosgrave, who trains in Banbridge, County Down, enjoyed his biggest success when sending out Mount Colah to win the €26,000 Thurles Racecourse Supporters Club Chase on Monday. The nine-year-old survived a terrible blunder at the final fence to beat Letter Of Credit and may return to the course for the €40,000 Grade 2 Ladbrokes Ireland Kinloch Brae Chase next Thursday. Willie Mullins sent out Roi Des Francs to win the 2m6f maiden hurdle, another winner for Bryan Cooper. Mullins also took the bumper on the card when Honeys Joy, kept to the wide outside by the trainer’s son Patrick throughout, scored easily. Paul Nolan and Mikey Fogarty teamed up to win the 2m maiden hurdle with I’m All You Need who was building on a promising effort at Clonmel last time. The 3m handicap chase went to the John Joe Walsh-trained Glen Ode who won well under Phillip Enright. The Doneraile trainer completed a double of his own when Brian O’Connell got Hard Bought home a narrow winner in the 2m handicap hurdle. County Offaly trainer George Webb landed the 2m6f handicap hurdle with Zipporah who made all the running under Kildare teenager Ricky Doyle.
Racing News
Lingfield Success For Curragh Trainer Tracey Collins
Captain Joy completed a hat-trick of wins when taking the 1m conditions stakes at Lingfield on Saturday. Ridden by Pat Smullen, the six-year-old, trained by Tracey Collins, scored a ready success and was adding to six earlier wins on the polytrack at Dundalk. He is now expected to return to the track on Good Friday for the inaugural All Weather Championship and might not run before then.
Weights for Valuable BoyleSports Hurdle and BoyleSports Chase Announced
The €100,000 BoyleSports Hurdle has attracted an entry of 42 horses. With six previous wins in the race, Arthur Moore looks set to rely on Sea Beat who is set to carry 9st 12lbs in the race and is a 14/1 chance with the sponsors. Willie Mullins has won the BoyleSports Hurdle on three occasions, including two of the last four renewals. He has six horses entered for the 2015 event, headed by Analifet on 11st 3lbs. Mckinley, a 14/1 chance with the sponsors to follow up on his win in the Grade 1 Lawlors Hotel Novice Hurdle at Naas on Sunday, has been allotted 11st 2lbs with both Daneking and 10/1 shot Lucky Bridle on 11st 1lb, Clondaw Warrior, another 10/1 chance, has been given 10st and Valyssa Monterg is in on 9st 13lbs.
Arthur Moore, the Champion trainer in the 1991-92 season, also has an enviable record in the €100,000 BoyleSports Handicap Chase (formerly the Leopardstown Handicap Chase) which he has won on four occasions. He has entered three horses this time, Fever Pitch (9st 12lbs), Treat Yourself (9st 10lbs) and Back Off Mate who is set to carry 9st 9lbs. With an entry of 27 horses, the Colin McBratney-trained Marito tops the weights on 11st 10lbs; just ahead of the Ted Walsh-trained Foxrock who has been allocated 11st 8lbs. Willie Mullins has made three entries for the race he won with Micko’s Dream in 2001 and they are headed by Djakadam on 11st 4lbs. Dogora is set to carry 10st 11lbs while Abbey Lane has 10st 5lbs.
Early Prize Fund Boost For Irish Champions Weekend
A significant prize-money boost has been announced for the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes at the Curragh on Irish Champions Weekend. The longest-running sales race of its kind in Europe, the total fund for the six-furlong contest on September 13 will increase from €200,000 to €250,000.
Past winners have included subsequent Group One winners Dick Turpin and Tout Seul, purchased for 26,000 and 12,500 euros respectively, and all graduates of the 2014 Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale and the September Yearling Sale Part II are eligible for the race, which closes on January 28.
Tattersalls Ireland managing director Roger Casey said: “After a successful 2014 for Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale graduates led by The Wow Signal and on the back of the resounding success of Irish Champions Weekend, we are delighted to announce that we have again increased the prize fund for the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Stakes to €250,000. The prize fund has now doubled in just two years and the race will continue to be a part of Irish Champions Weekend. Last year saw 30 horses go to post, with 12 representing Great Britain, and was won by Midterm Break, trained by David Barron, and we look forward to another strong renewal in 2015.”
Upcoming Fixture
Thurles – Thursday 15th January (First Race 1.05)
Dundalk – Friday 16th January (First Race 6.05)
Naas – Saturday 17th January (First Race 12.45)
Leopardstown – Sunday 18th January (First Race 12.50)
