Boss Robin wins competitive renewal of open lightweight at Ballindenisk point-to-point
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There was a fabulous atmosphere at yesterday’s well-attended United Hunt Club’s Ballindenisk point-to-point fixture and, on an afternoon that witnessed seven races and some 82 runners, the John Gleeson-trained Boss Robin won a most competitive renewal of the open lightweight.
The seasonal debutant Boss Robin (7/1), a dual hunter chase scorer last term that represents Fermoy native Aidan Archdeacon, edged ever closer from the third-last of the 12 obstacles under his handler’s 24-year-old nephew Patrick Gleeson from Knocklong and the victorious eight-year-old moved past long-time leader King Alex approaching the final fence. The victorious eight-year-old then bravely kept West Of Carrig, who had to contend with a slipped saddle from before the last with his rider then losing his irons, at bay to oblige by a length.
Handler Gleeson indicated that Boss Robin, who has now won three points, will now more than likely be aimed at the Down Royal hunters chase on December 26.
Jamie Scallan was the only rider to depart with two winners and the south Co Wexford native will seldom ride and easier winner that he did aboard Sean Doyle’s Between Waters (9/4) in the mares’ winners of two. Between Waters, who was placed twice in Britain last year when under the care of Nicky Henderson, overtook Hathaways Cottage after three out and she powered clear to beat David Christie’s aforementioned representative by a resounding 32 lengths. The six-year-old Between Waters will probably now run in another point.
It was Sean Doyle’s younger brother Eamonn that supplied Scallan with his initial success of the afternoon courtesy of newcomer King’s Bucks (2/1) in the first division of the four-year-old maiden. The Buck’s Boum-sired King’s Bucks, whose dam is a half-sister to Paul Nicholls’ former Grade 1 chase winner Cyrname and who was acquired for €82, 000 at last year’s Derby sale, came a second time to lead in the closing stages to dismiss fellow debutant Ace Brannigan by a head.
Jonathan Fogarty continued his stellar run by sending out debutant Walk Tall (3/1), whose dam is a half-sister to the mighty Hurricane Fly, to oblige in the second part of this same contest. Noel McParlan, who was posting an initial career winner for handler Fogarty, sent the winning son of Walk In The Park to the front before two out to dismiss Absolutely Dylan by two and a half lengths.
The Paul Cashman-trained newcomer Romany King (5/1), having done well to overcome a first-fence error, made virtually all the running with James Murphy in the five-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.
Runner-up Mags Nelson had just moved through to challenge approaching the last, but having blundered here, Ciaran Fennessy’s charge couldn’t cope with the winning son of Clovis Du Berlais in the closing stages with three parts of a length separating the pair. The British-bred Romany King, a half-brother to Jedd O’Keeffe’s five-time winning mare Miah Grace that is rated in the mid-130s, is now likely to be sold.
Racegoers were treated to another gripping finish in the closing five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts maiden as owner/trainer Pat Healy’s Drive On Jimmey (10/1), a creditable fifth on his career debut at Dromahane in April of last year, led in the very dying strides with Eoin O’Brien’s to thwart Garrett Ahern’s gallant frontrunner Trooper Carton by a head.
Meanwhile, Matthew Flynn O’Connor’s Hay Baby (4/1) vindicated the promise of her third-placed effort at Toomebridge last term by making the best of her way home from two out to see off Annacassar by a length in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.
Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale 4-Y-O Maiden (1st Div) of €800. 3 Miles Mossy Fen Stables Partnership’s King’s Bucks (FR) b g (Buck’s Boum – Vakina) 11-11 Mr J L Scallan Milestone Bloodstock Ltd’s Ace Brannigan 11-11 Mr B O’Neill Gaynestown Stud Partnership’s Malayalam (FR) 11-11 Mr N McParlan 10 ran. Hd, 10L, 16L. (Winner trained by Eamonn M Doyle)
Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale 4-Y-O Maiden (2nd Div) of €800. 3 Miles Gaynestown Stud Partnership’s Walk Tall b g (Walk In The Park – Blixt) 11-11 Mr N McParlan Lucy Kelleher & Joseph Burke Partnership’s Absolutely Doyen 11-11 Mr D Allen Milestone Bloodstock Ltd’s Beau Coup (FR) 11-11 Mr B O’Neill 9 ran. 2 1/2L, 18L, 3 1/2L. (Winner trained by Jonathan M Fogarty)
Gallaghers Gastro Pub & Heineken Ireland 5-Y-O & Upwards Geldings’ Maiden of €1, 750. 3 Miles Mrs C Cashman’s Romany King (GB) b g (Clovis Du Berlais – Silver Gypsy) 5-12-2 Mr J G Murphy Rathmoy Syndicate’s Mags Nelson 5-12-2 Mr A O’Sullivan Conna Enclosure Syndicate’s Truckers Shine 5-12-2 Mr C J Shine 15 ran. 3/4L, 17L, 1L. (Winner trained by P Cashman)
Chanceit.ie Open Lightweight of €1, 750. 3 Miles A Archdeacon’s Boss Robin b g (Mahler – How Is Things) 8-11-11 Mr P W Gleeson A Browne’s West Of Carrig 7-11-11 Mr A J Browne Ms C Ahern’s King Alex (FR) 10-11-11 Mr J P Ahern 17 ran. 1L, 10L, 3 1/2L. (Winner trained by John F Gleeson)
Shane & Michael O’Riordan Ltd, Livestock Haulier 5-Y-O & Upwards Mares’ Maiden of €1, 750. 3 Miles M Flynn O’Connor’s Hay Baby ch m (Doyen – Leith Walk) 5-11-11 Mr B Lawless Anna Gannon Syndicate’s Annacassar 5-11-11 Mr B O’Neill J Condon’s Crohan Lady 6-11-11 Mr J L Scallan 11 ran. 1L, 5 1/2L, 12 1/2L. (Winner trained by Matthew Flynn O’Connor)
Commercial Vehicle Components Mares’ Winners Of Two of €1, 750. 3 Miles S T Doyle’s Between Waters b m (Walk In The Park – Clear Riposte) 6-12-2 Mr J L Scallan R Nicholas’ Hathaways Cottage 6-12-2 Mr B O’Neill Ms D Winning’s Lucky Lioness 5-11-11 Mr P J Cody 9 ran. 32L, 23L, 12L. (Winner trained by Sean Thomas Doyle)
Noel Loftus T/A Loftus Flooring 5-Y-O & Upwards Adjacent Hunts Maiden of €1, 750. 3 Miles P J Healy’s Drive On Jimmey b g (Imperial Monarch – Crazy Disy) 7-12-2 Mr E P O’Brien G J Ahern’s Trooper Carton 5-11-11 Mr J P Ahern Castle Conna Syndicate’s Arthor 7-12-2 Mr J Hurley 11 ran. Hd, 1/2L, 3 1/2L. (Winner trained by P J Healy)