Doyle looks set to make profit from Cadillac

The weather was kind for Sunday’s North Tipperary Foxhounds’ Point-to-Point fixture in Nenagh, with a tint of spring sunshine making it a pleasant afternoon for the large crowd that turned up to enjoy a superb day’s racing on the lands of genial host Peter McCutcheon.

Report: Michael Duggan

Holycross trainer Pat Doyle wasted little time in finding the coveted number-one spot when sending out well-backed 4/5 favourite Big Cadillac to land the opening four-year-old maiden. Pa King took the reins aboard this well-bred son of Soldier Of Fortune, who was making his debut in this competitive five-runner affair.

A €52,000 graduate of last year’s Goffs Arkle Sale, Big Cadillac travelled strongly before making his way to the front at the third-last fence. Clear off the home turn, King’s mount was always in control when staying on in good style to deny runner-up King Of Thieves by two-and-a-half-lengths.

Doyle trains the winner for his wife Mary and their daughter Susie reported: “Dad is at the Knockanard meeting today, but he’ll be delighted with this lad’s display. He’s a very nice horse and we felt coming here that he was going to be hard to beat. He might go to the Sale in Cheltenham on Friday now.”

Winning rider King added: “Big Cadillac is a smashing horse. I was always going well and if we didn’t get in a bit tight to the final fence, he'd have won by a much bigger margin. I’m very lucky to be riding these very nice horses for the Doyle family, the yard is in flying form at the moment.”

Waterford jockey Mikey Sweeney took the day’s riding honours when bagging two winners. Sweeney paid his first visit to the winner’s enclosure when claiming the winners’ race aboard game 7/1 shot Prophet’s Corner. Trained in Araglen, Co. Cork by his owner Sean Allen, the victorious son of Westerner made most of the running and pulled effortlessly clear to beat the Turlough O’Connor-ridden Nibbles by 24 lengths.

“He’s a good, tough horse and Mikey (Sweeney) gets on really well with him. He is a really positive rider and I thought he gave the horse a smashing ride,” revealed Allen.

“He was second to Ryehill in Bellharbour the last day, but the ground was just too good on that occasion. He needs it heavy, and it was perfect here today. We’ll keep tipping away with him while the going is suitable.

“He’ll go for another winners’ somewhere soon. We have seven horses in at the moment and three of them have won so we are going great, thank God.”

In-form Sweeney went on to complete his double in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden where his mount, Maryollie (5/1) turned in a very eye-catching performance.

Fourth on her only debut in Carrigarostig last month, this daughter of Jukebox Jury - who is trained in Waterford by Pat Crowley for fellow county man Liam Fenton - stepped forward from that initial outing when staying on powerfully in the closing stages to beat only other finisher Angels Halo by a yawning 32 lengths.

Sweeney said: “This mare had a lovely run first time out and I was delighted to be asked to ride her today. Pat (Crowley, winning trainer) is a neighbour of mine, he’s a grand fella and a very good trainer.

“There was a lot to like about Maryolloe’s display, I’d say she is a very good mare. I’ve had a great day here and it makes all the hard work worthwhile. We’ll enjoy the good times when they come.”

Just three went to post in the open lightweight for Lady Riders, with the Maxine O’Sullivan-ridden Come To Me (even-money joint-favourite) coming home in splendid isolation to record a bloodless victory.

Fellow joint-favourite Glentruan and Hannah Phillips set off in front here and, when Robbin’Hannon parted company with his rider Chloe Gunn three out, it was left to a match between himself and Come To Me. The long-time leader got very weary in the home straight (he was eventually pulled up before the final fence) with the patiently-ridden Come To Me coming through to lead between the final two fences and finish alone.

Well-known racing figure Tracey Gilmore - who spent the best part of three decades working for champion trainer Willie Mullins - trains the winner at her Naas, Co. Kildare base, and she said: “Come To Me is the only horse I have in training, I mainly run a rest and rehab yard for horses these days, but I’m thrilled he has won again for me. Maxine gave him a terrific ride; she took her time on that heavy ground, and he came home well.

“She was very cool, and it paid off. I’ll take him home now and he’ll get three weeks to recover from today’s exertions before making any further plans. He will more than likely head for another winners’ race.”

Having been on the sideline of late, this victory was a welcome one for the Cork-born winning rider, who reported: “I’m thrilled to be back in the winner’s circle. Fair play to Tracey, she had the horse in great order.

“I injured my back in a fall schooling nearly three months ago and I was out of action until recently. I opted to take my time in the early part of the race as the ground is heavy out there. He is a solid horse and his stamina won out today.”

The concluding older horses’ maiden attracted nine runners, with the spoils going to the Watar-sired 6/1 chance God Help Us, trained in Conna, Co. Cork by Eamonn Gallagher.

Johnny Hurley was on board the eight-year-old who asserted his authority in the closing stages to beat Tom Keating’s Walk Easy by four-and-a-half-lengths.

“He’s a fair horse and I’m glad he’s put his head in front, he’s been very consistent and deserved that,” said Gallagher.

“I got this horse from Martin Hurley, an uncle of the winning rider, when he decided to give up training and he had a lot of the hard work done with him.

Johnny gave him a smashing ride. We are mainly a breaking and pre-training operation, but we also have a good strike-rate with our runners.

“John O’Meara (winning owner) is from Castlelyons and is a great man to train for. I actually broke this horse for John as a youngster and that is my first winner for him. It’s been fourteen years since his last winner, so he’s delighted. We’ll see what way the horse comes out of today before deciding on any future plans, but he’ll probably go for a winners’ race.”

The Wexford father-and-son team of trainer Liam Kenny and jockey James Kenny were on the mark when their impressive newcomer Saint Malinas (4/1-6/1) came home in front in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. Up front throughout, the son of Malinas found generously on the uphill climb to the winning line to hold the efforts of runner-up Simply The Bestone by two-and-a-half-lengths.

Having sent out King Of Thieves to fill second spot in the opening race, a delighted Kenny senior disclosed: “We’ve always thought this lad was a nice horse. He was always going nicely and stuck at it very well. We came here as we thought the heavy ground would suit him.

“I train near Gorey, and we have fifteen horses on the go. I own the winner in partnership with my son James. It was great to get the win after going close in the first race. All being well, he’ll head to one of the upcoming sales.”

The Brianna Lynch Memorial Junior members race which took place after racing generated plenty of interest. Huntsman Denis O’Sullivan led the participants around, with Lucas Neville taking the horse race, while Abigail Byrne was aboard the first pony home.