Local trainers on the mark at Nenagh Point to Point

HORSE RACING: North Tipperary Foxhounds Point to Point

Report: Michael Duggan

Photos: Odhran Ducie

Punters enjoyed the thrills and spills of point-to-point racing at its best last Saturday as the rescheduled North Tipperary Foxhounds’ fixture took place on Peter McCutcheon’s farm at Lisboney on the outskirts of Nenagh.

As always at this popular venue, action on track was highly competitive with the honours on what was a very pleasant afternoon going to Holycross trainer Pat Doyle who saddled two winners.

Doyle was quickly into his stride when sending out smart newcomer Le Frimeur (7/2) to land the opening four-year-old maiden. Ridden by David Doyle for high-profile joint-owners Isaac Soude and Simon Munir, this French-bred son of Gemix travelled strongly throughout this keenly-contested seven-runner opener.

Quite a few of the fancied ones were prominent as the penultimate fence loomed, but Le Frimeur marked himself down as a name for the future when surging clear in the home straight to beat Robert Tector’s Johnny Moonshine by seven lengths.

Jack Doyle, representing his dad Pat, divulged: “We expected this horse to give a good account of himself and he did. David gave him a great ride. It was quite impressive the way he pulled clear at the end. I’d say he’s a very smart sort.

“He is the first horse we have trained for the Munir-Souede operation. They bought horses off us in the past and sent us this lad to get educated. He has always shown us that he was a nice horse, he'll probably head to another trainer now to continue his career on the track.”

The Doyle double was completed in the winners’ race where the Pandora Briselden-owned and ridden I Masked Du Poitier (11/2) claimed what looked like an ultra-competitive open lightweight for Lady Riders.

John Queally’s Pat Coyne went off 4/6 favourite here under Jodie Townend and the market leader held a slender advantage jumping the final fence. UK native Ms Briselden was winding up her mount for a challenge, however, and the seven-year-old by Masked Marvel came home best to beat Pat Coyne by a head after a stirring duel.

Pat Doyle remarked: “This horse has his own way of doing things but has plenty of quality. He did well there to pull victory out of the fire.

“Pandora is a talented rider who comes to us two or three mornings a week. She has a dose of flu today, so fair dues to her she was strong when needed. This lad will go for a maiden hunter’s chase in Cork over Easter.”

It was a particularly good day for the “home team” with Killenaule handler Andy Slattery also among the winners when his 8/1 shot Camden Bard took the five-year-old geldings’ maiden under a fine ride from jockey Adam Ryan.

Having shown plenty on his three previous starts, this son of Walk In The Park wasn't going to be denied on this occasion when powering away off the bend to beat Wexford raider Hello Fortune by five lengths.

Slattery - who trains the winner for his wife Sharon - wasn't present, but the victorious jockey remarked: “We felt this horse had a big chance today as he had some good form in the book. I was pleased with him throughout the race and when I asked him to go and win his race, he responded generously. The Slattery’s have been very good to me, I'm delighted to ride another winner for them.”

Fifteen faced the starter in the winners’ race with victory here going to 4/1 co-favourite Making Country in the green and gold hoops of leading owner JP McManus.

Edward O'Grady trains this Shirocco-sired eight-year-old who was given a peach of a ride from Galway jockey Eoin Mahon when flashing home inside the final 100 yards to beat Pat Healy’s Drive On Jimmey by a length.

“That was a brilliant ride,” declared Thurles-based O'Grady in the number-one spot.

“Eoin timed it to perfection, and he is obviously a very good jockey. This horse has had his problems in the past and it is lovely to have him back. He won a four-year-old maiden in Turtulla in 2021 and we’ve had to be patient with him in the interim. He’ll probably go for another winners’ race, all going well.”

Wexford handler Donnchadh Doyle hit the crossbar on a few occasions during the afternoon but didn’t leave the fixture empty-handed as his 6/4 joint-favourite Catalani registered a very easy success in the concluding older geldings’ maiden.

Rob James set the gelding by Lauro alight off the home turn and the pair pulled effortlessly clear to beat runner-up Winning Paddy by half-a-dozen-lengths.

“All our horses ran well here today, and this lad has finished the day off on a good note for us. He’s a lovely horse, the form was there for everyone to see. He jumped super and Rob never had to get too serious with him. He’ll head for a winners’ race next.”

The five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden was a cracking contest, with the spoils going to the Lee Shanahan-ridden 9/2 chance Justlikejessejames.

Trained in Kildare by Ross O’Sullivan for the Downtown Syndicate from Galway, this daughter of Mount Nelson responded generously to her rider’s urgings when finding more on the run-in to deny Klassy Pearl by three lengths.

“This is a nice mare and we fancied her today,” divulged the winning rider.

“Her owners, the Monroe family, are proprietors of Monroe’s Tavern in Galway City and are huge racing fans. They own Ryehill who I am hoping to ride in the Cheltenham Foxhunter’s on Friday, so it’s great to start the week off on a winning note.”

RESULTS

Liam Buckley Car Sales four-year-old maiden - 3 Miles.

1st - Simon Munir & Isaac Souede’s Le Frimeur b g (Gemix - Ty Petrine)11-11 Mr D. Doyle.

2nd - R Tector’s Johnny Moonshine 11-11 Mr B T Stone.

3. Paul Holden’s Coolmeen Briggs 11-11 Mr D O'Connor.

7 Ran. Distance: 7L. 12L.

Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale five-year-old Geldings’ Maiden - 3 Miles.

1st - Mrs Sharon Slattery’s Camden Bard b g (Walk In The Park - Kentish Town) 12-2 Mr A P Ryan.

2nd - Monbeg Syndicate’s Hello Fortune 12-2 Mr R James.

3rd - Alan Harte’s Dr Pep 12-2 Ms N Lockheed-Anderson.

10 Ran. Distances: 5L. 1.5L.

Carey Glass Winners Of One - 3 Miles.

1st - J P McManus’ Making Country b g (Shirocco - Seren Gris) 8 12-2 Mr E Mahon.

2nd - PJ Healy’s Drive On Jimmey 8 12-2 Mr E P O’Brien.

3rd - James Anthony Roche’s Midnight Moonshine 6 12-2 Mr S Staples.

15 Ran. Distances: IL. 1L.

Connolly’s’ Red Mills Ladies Open Lightweight - 3 Miles.

1st - Pandora Briselden's I Masked Du Potier ch g (Masked Marvel - Quatell) 7 11-11 Mr P Briselden.

2nd - Miriam Queally’s Pat Coyne 11 11-11 Ms J Townend.

3rd - S J Hegarty & Jennifer O’Kane’s Ask D’Man 11 11-11 Ms M O’Sullivan.

8 Ran. Distances: Hd. 2L.

Thurles Racecourse & Gain Equine Nutrition five-year-old & upwards mares’ maiden - 3 Miles.

1st - Downtown Syndicate’s Justlikejessejames b m (Mount Nelson - Bobarelee) 6 11-11 Mr L P Shanahan.

2nd - Monbeg Syndicate’s Klassy Pearl 5 11-11 Mr R James.

3rd - Anne Lalor’s Carrigeen 5 11-11 Mr A P Ryan.

13 ran. Distances: 3L.1L.

Millerect Ltd six-year-old & upwards geldings’ maiden - 3 Miles.

1st - Monbeg Syndicate’s Catalani br g (Lauro - Lemon Love Kid) 6 12-2 Mr R James.

2nd - Adam Lord’s Winning Paddy 7 12-2 Mr A J Lord.

3rd - Helen O’Connor’s Tokens Glory 6 12-2 Mr J Hurley.

7 ran. Distances: 6L. 15L.