12:00 Dennison Commercial 4yo Maiden
As always in the area a competitive looking 4yo Maiden kicks off this Saturday’s card at Loughanmore and the best on the form book has to the Donnchadh Doyle trained Howaboutnow, a Shantou Gelding with just the two starts under his belt so far. He debuted at the Kirkistown April meeting in the Spring in the race won by Dannanceys Hill and whilst beaten nineteen lengths back in fifth he showed more than enough promise on ground that would probably have been too soft for him. He returned to the track at Tinahely two weeks ago and ran a great race in defeat when runner-up to the potentially top class Dawn Commander. Howaboutnow also holds an engagement at Kinsale this weekend and given his latest run and the underfoot conditions I’d imagine he’s more likely to be seen at Kinsale. Standing Ovation could represent Sam Curling here, the Presenting gelding made his racing debut at Loughrea two weekends back and ran a blinder in finishing runner-up to the vastly more experienced Grandturgeon in what was a decent time and he looks more than capable of taking a race of this nature before going on to have a successful rules career. Some Officer is another to make his debut this season, this time at the Castletown meeting on the first Sunday of the month. Some Officer travelled well enough into the race and was beaten less than four lengths by more experienced geldings which suggests he’ll be able to put this experience to good use in the coming months. The Billy Gahan trained Honourable Exit is unlucky not to have at least one placing on the board given he fell at the last in Dawn Commander's Maiden at Tinahely, I doubt whether he’d have beaten Howaboutnow on the day but it was an improvement on his debut when pulled up at Loughbrickland back in March. Inthelunchbreak was hampered at the third last on his second and most recent career start at Necarne back in May, he was last of five finishers that day but had run very well up until that point and with the winner taking a Bumper earlier this month, the fourth Barlow winning already this season and the third running well in a similar race to this last weekend the form has a very solid look to it, he’s definitely one of the livelier outsiders in this affair. Another with form that ties in to Barlow is the Posidonas gelding Hello Sir who ran behind Ian Ferguson’s charge at Toomebridge on the second weekend of the season, he raced prominently for a long way on that occasion and that was a very pleasing debut for a 4yo and I’m sure his connections will be looking to see him improve on that effort.
Selection: Standing Ovation
Alternative: Inthelunchbreak
12:30 Stonebridge 5yo Geldings Maiden
A solid looking Maiden here with Butney Boy a clear standout on form thanks to his half length defeat by Admiral Barton over this course back in April, he’d clearly benefitted from his debut run on this occasion and despite no winners having emerged from the race as yet there’s only been two to run and one of those was placed. The Subtle Power gelding Ballyconnell made a pleasing debut for Neil McKnight at Taylorstown three weeks ago when racing handy for much of the way, he had been left clear by a faller when he himself came to grief at the last. Whether Ballyconnell would have won is open to debate but this was a most pleasing debut. Betterbackbob, a stablemate of Ballyconnell’s had been racing under rules for much of the Spring and Summer but he made a solid return to points at Toomebridge when chasing home Seriatim in a Maiden which was run in a fast time, which suggests that the form will stand up to scrutiny. Devil May Care for Paul Nolan could attempt to redeem himself having disappointed at Tinahely when only third behind According To Trev and it’s possible that he might better suited to an easier track, he made a pleasing debut when third to the useful rules horse Handy Andy at Nenagh back in January but has disappointed twice since, he’ll surely improve for that last run though is likely to appreciate cut in the ground. Ed’s Legacy ran well enough prior to falling at the last fence at Loughrea behind Master Of The Game, the time was nothing special and he would have finished some way behind the eventual winner if he’d completed but he warrants a second look in a race of this nature. Talkin Grey made his debut back in September at Rathcannon in a hot looking Maiden form wise behind De Faoithesdream, the runner-up scored at Dromahane last weekend whilst the third also scored next time out. This race was run in a decent time and I expect that Talkin Grey will be adding to the list of winners from this race in the not too distant future.
Selection: Talkin Grey
Alternative: Butney Boy
13:00 Houston Coachworks Ltd Winner Of One 4yo+ (Mdns Excl)
The Stuart Crawford team have been in fine form so far this season with winners in this sphere in addition to a recent rules double at Downpatrick and he could saddle the Bach gelding Rathnaroughy who may well have made a successful return to points at Castletown at the start of the month had it not been for tipping up at the last behind Isle of Gold. This was Rathnaroughy’s first points start since taking home at Lingstown Maiden back in April 2010, he’s been racing under rules since then with his best effort being when runner-up to recent Chepstow winner Drumbaloo at Ayr back in March. The yard have already landed a similar race to this with another ex-rules horse this season and will surely be expecting Rathnaroughy to go close here. The top horse Bell On Bike is unraced since finishing second having been sent off favourite for a Confined Hunt Winners event at Necarne back in May, he chased home See Double You on that occasion and had previously gained a deserved Maiden success in an Older Maiden at Largy. This was a much deserved victory given he’d placed on each of his previous three starts. He’s a late comer to racing given that he wasn’t seen until he was seven but he looks an above average prospect and is likely to be a leading contender here providing that he is fit for this return to action. His trainer David Christie also has two others engaged in this and these are Loughrea Maiden winner Not Before Eight who’s also finished runner-up to dual scorer Onefortheroad Mac this season and Oscar Fern who impressed me greatly when scoring in a 5&6yo Geldings Maiden at Castletown in a very fast time at the start of the month. Oscar Fern was an eyecatcher on debut at Dromahane last season behind Friendly Society in a Maiden that has produced no fewer than seven individual winners including Grade 2 Hurdles scorer Back In Focus whilst he returned to the Cork venue a month later just after Christmas when pulling up in another hot Maiden (this time there have been eight winners come out of the race) so it was no surprise to see him score under Damian Murphy in a very fast time that day. He won a shade cosily on that occasion and so should be up to scoring in Winners grade and may even go on to have a decent future under rules. Carsonstown Bridge gained some invaluable back-end Winners experience last season at Sligo when fourth to Share Wood having previously broken his Maiden at Largy under Champion jockey Derek O’Connor, he was belatedly breaking his Maiden on that occasion given that he’d “won” at Taylorstown back in May 2010 prior to being disqualified. Another to garner late season Winners experience was Ian Ferguson’s Fort View Wings who took a Loughbrickland Maiden by five lengths from Marina Del Ray at the end of March prior to finishing last of six finishers, though beaten just twelve lengths behind the useful Court In Session at Toomebridge in May. Gardikos has had plenty of chances in winners grade but has arguably been unlucky in that he’s come up against some real class horses in the shape of Simonsig (winner of the Pointers Bumper at Fairyhouse in April) at Limavady and Court In Session at Toomebridge when he had Fort View Wings in behind. Gardikos has returned this season – again at Toomebridge where he ran a solid third to subsequent Downpatrick Beginners Chase winner Call Box, this was a solid enough run and though he’s not getting any younger there is reason to believe he’ll be capable of scoring in Winners grade this season.
Selection: Oscar Fern
Alternative: Rathnaroughy
13:30 Topping Meats Open 4yo+ (Mdns Excl)
What has the makings of a top class Open is the fourth race on the card at Loughanmore, the Gordon Elliot trained Backstage could make his second appearance of the season following a facile victory at Tinahely under Jamie Codd two weeks ago. He’s now unbeaten in his last three starts spreading this season and last and he looks the one to beat for Middleham Park Racing and the staff at Gordon Elliot’s, he was long-time Ante-Post favourite for the 2011 Grand National and as such represents the class in the race. Amongst Backstage’s possible rivals in this is Lord Multifix, who recorded the maximum number of victories last season and took his first victory of the current campaign at Taylorstown three weeks ago at the expense of Backstage’s stablemate Nedzer’s Return who’s franked the form somewhat by running Send For Paddy (a scorer twice already this season) close at Glenbane. As previously mentioned the Crawford’s have been in fine form so far this season and Onefortheroad Mac could represent them in this event. He’s seemingly improved a stone or so during the Summer break and already has two victories to his name this season, firstly when taking an Older Maiden at Toomebridge and then when scoring seven days later in a Winners Of One at Taylorstown, he’s been partnered on each occasion by Ben Crawford and the pair are unbeaten together, this however does represent a large step up in grade and it’s likely that he’ll take time to find his feet in Open’s. Mattock Ranger provided something of a shock on the opening day of the season at Rathcannon when running out an easy winner of the Open at 10/1, he hadn’t been seen since February prior to that and this formerly useful track perform can still cut it in Points. That said this represents a tougher test and I’d like to see him back that effort up in here.
Selection: Backstage
Alternative: Lord Multifix
14:00 Doherty & Gray Meats 5yo+ Mares Maiden
Fayebay was arguably unlucky not to break her Maiden last time out at Taylorstown as she led over the last under trainer/rider Holly McGahan, this represented a return to form as her previous effort back in the Spring resulted in a disappointing twenty seven length defeat at Necarne. Corrag Lass’ has been a consistent enough mare for connections with three placings in her past four starts, including at Necarne back in May when runner-up to Queen Of The Air, backend Mares Maiden’s aren’t generally known for being strong events but this Beneficial mare ran well on that occasion and previously when third at Limavady. Corrag Lass had Con Air in behind at Necarne and that mare ran a promising debut having made eyecatching progress in behind before weakening and eventually pulling up, she’s sure to have improved for that run and is a possible dark horse in here. Kissing Lessons was having just her second points start when falling at the second last in a similar race to this won by Wee Doll at Taylorstown a few weeks back, she showed more on this occasion than on her return from a near 18 month lay-off following a sole bumper run in the UK back in June 2010 and I expect she’ll progress throughout the season. Kissing Lessons is trained by Liam Lennon and he could also be represented by Young Celebrity who went down by just a head to Leigh Oscar in a Mares Maiden at Toomebridge at the start of the month, she’s shown a liking for this course in the past having finished third beaten just two lengths in a 5yo Mares Maiden at this track back in April 2010 and she could well play a leading part if taking her chance. Colin Bowe does well with his mares and has the Tintern Ten Syndicate’s Emmas’ House engaged here, her form last season wasn’t great bar a runner-up position to Eimears Oscar at Loughbrickland at the end of March but she showed more on her return when beaten under thirty lengths back in fourth behind Flick Of A Switch at Kilsheelan.
Selection: Fayebay
Alternative: Young Celebrity
14:30 Winsome Lady 6&7yo Geldings Maiden
Imperial Vic looks the one to beat in this on the back of his head defeat to Some Dude at Tinahely last time out. This was an improvement on the form he’d shown previously with last seasons best being placings at Ballyragget, Lingstown and Limavady. He’s generally been campaigned on good ground but seemed to show a preference for a firmer surface last time out so any rain will surely be detrimental to his chances. Gale Force Oscar showed solid form last season and was still travelling best when coming down two out over this course back in April, the eventual winner has won an Open since over the banks course at Lingstown and it was in my opinion a hot Maiden that he contested first time out when beaten sixteen lengths by De Faoithesdream, the two placed horses (Betterthanalright and According To Trev) have both scored since and Gale Force Oscar will be attempting to make it a third horse within just over a month. Carmels Boy was still in front when coming to grief at Toomebridge at the start of the month, this was his first outing in two years and he backed that up by finishing a neck second in a similar affair at Taylorstown a week later. Aghavillar is a long standing Maiden and ran his best race in a long time when runner-up to Cilliseal at Toomebridge at the start of May, this was a solid run in the circumstances but he would have been held by Gale Force Oscar on his previous outing at Loughanmore. Casson has been racing primarily under rules since his Pointing debut over this course eighteen months ago, he was still in with a chance when coming to grief at the last on that occasion and has since run some solid races under rules, most notably when eight lengths fifth to the highly promising Last Instalment at Navan back in February whilst Outback Man hasn’t been seen out since July 2010 but had shown some ability in a Maiden at Ballyragget in March of that year, he was running a solid race when coming to grief at the last though he may be best watched on this occasion.
Selection: Gale Force Oscar
Alternative: Imperial Vic
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