Fenton savours festive flourish as Balko d’Ange makes Limerick breakthrough
Niall Racing Win Photo Quinnbet Up D'ange In Hurdle Pic: Moore The Balko Healy Limerick Over: Handicap And And
Balko d’Ange made his hurdling breakthrough when justifying 13/8 favouritism in the listed QuinnBet Handicap Hurdle, the feature on the final day of Limerick’s Christmas festival.
Ridden for Philip Fenton by 7lb. claimer Niall Moore, the four-year-old handicap debutant saw off Bright Legend by a length and a half, much to the delight of the trainer.
“It’s a great way to break your duck," Fenton said. “He disappointed us the last day, but the winner (Cottesloe Sunshine) has won again since. This fellow is improving and was racing off a nice mark. This is a lovely pot to win with him. We won’t rush him...we’ll take it step by step.”
Henry de Bromhead, who won a Grade 3 with July Flower in Leopardstown earlier in the day, completed an across-the-card double and registered his sixth success of the Christmas period when Sommesky ran out a convincing winner of the Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle.
Confidently handled by Mike O’Connor, the 5/6 favourite tracked the leaders before challenging off the home turn, asserting and stretching clear to beat market rival Custom Taylor by six and a half lengths.
“He had a good run in Fairyhouse and stepped forward," O’Connor commented. "He lengthened away up the straight and seems a nice horse – he might get three miles.”
As big as 12/1 in the morning and backed into 11/4 favourite, Whateys Quest took the Limerick Racecourse Vets Novice Handicap Chase for the father-and-son combination of Charles and Philip Byrnes, the six-year-old staying on stoutly to beat Rusheen by three lengths.
“The extra distance made all the difference,” stated the winning trainer. “He was on his head all the way in Naas the last day, but everything was in his favour today. I had this race in mind for a while and he got the job done. This is his level and we’ll mix it with him, hurdles and fences.”
Trainer Terence O’Brien and the Near Orv Never Syndicate from the Kilworth/Araglin area of Cork are dreaming about a trip to Cheltenham with Con’s Roc following his win in the Masterchefs 2025 Maiden Hunters Chase. Ridden by Darragh Allen, the 6/1 shot outstayed Willitgoahead to score by almost four lengths
"He won his point-to-point impressively last year, but he’s been hard to keep sound and the Syndicate have been very patient," O’Brien said. "We’d love to end up in Cheltenham with and he’ll need to have another run before then, to get in.”
Trainer John Ryan, who described himself as “heartbroken” by the loss of stable star and six-time winner Lucid Dreams in the Paddy Power on Friday, received a timely boost when David Doyle brought Ad Caelum (7/2) with a well-timed challenge to beat top-weight Killaney King in the Prestige Tarmacadam Rated Novice Hurdle.
Knockbrack Rambler, a well-backed 4/1 second favourite, landed the finale, the RYAN Safety & Security Handicap Hurdle for Brendan Walsh and amateur Cal Shine.