Noel’s double aids punters

Noel’s double aids punters

1 February 2017

CABRA jockey Noel McParlan took the honours at Tyrella on Saturday when he rode a double at the East Down Foxhounds’ first meeting of the season.

Overnight rain on Friday certainly helped in terms of the going with Loveherandleaveher showing a liking for the conditions with an eye-catching display when winning the opening race on the card, the Albert Bartlett five-year-old mares’ maiden.

The Caroline McCaldin-trained runner was well supported in the betting ring and put in a decent round of jumping to race clear entering the home straight and win by an impressive 12 lengths, giving McParlan his first success of the day and his 12th winner of the current season.

Ten runners faced the starter for the five-year-old geldings’ maiden with Robbie James keeping Donnchadh Doyle’s Asking Questions in close contention for most of the three miles trip before setting sail for home as they headed for the last.

James’ mount cleared the final fence in good style and had two lengths to spare over Mark O’Hare on the fast finishing Mistercobar, with a further six lengths back to Michael Goff’s Fenlons Court.

“He’s a nice horse who has strengthened up nicely and will probably head for the sales,” said successful trainer Doyle in the winners’ enclosure. 

McParlan grabbed his second success of the day in the third race on the card when riding As The Crow Flies to victory in the winner of two race for his father Sean.

Mark O’Hare cut out the early running on Katesbridge trainer Jerry Cosgrove’s Isn’t She Lovely with McParlan happy to sit behind alongside Harley Dunne on Battle Anthem.

Racing towards the final fence, McParlan and As The Crow Flies asserted to have four lengths in hand at the winning post and secure a third win on the trot following successes at Kirkistown and Loughbrickland in November. The six-year-old gelding may be aimed at a bumper next.

Young Downpatrick jockey Jay Gibney made his point-to-point debut in the open, taking the mount on his father’s Mart Lane who gave him a great spin until pulling up between the second last and last fence. 

Ballynoe’s Ross McLeigh also had a leg up in this race, partnering Stephen Magee’s News For Pascal who slipped up approaching the home turn.

At the business end of the race Dublin’s Gearoid O’Loughlin and Home Farm, formerly a decent sort on the track with Henry de Bromhead and Arthur Moore, proved the best of the field when responding well in a driving finish to get the better of market principles Balnaslow, ridden by Derek O’Connor, and Barry O’Neill on the pace-setting Maple Mons. 

“It’s great to get this horse winning again. He hasn’t won in nearly three years and it’s a pleasure to train a winner for an owner like Chris Jones,” said O’Loughlin following the race.

O’Neill had better luck in the following race when getting a decent tune out of the Pat Coffey-trained Ar Fheabhas Ar Fad in the mares’ maiden. The Tipperary runner appeared to relish every yard of the trip and a series of eye-catching leaps had her rivals in trouble a good way from the finish. 

With their only serious rival, Commercial Ruin and Noel McParlan, departing two from home, the pair sauntered to victory by 20 lengths.

“She idled a bit once we were left on our own after the faller at the second last, but she still won with plenty up her sleeve,” said O’Neill on his way to weighing in.

The success brought O’Neill’s tally for the season to 24 and he currently sits on top of the jockeys’ table ahead of Jamie Codd and Derek O’Connor.

The largest field of the day saw 11 runners line up for the final race on the card with 21-year-old Trim jockey Donal Kelleher partnering his first ever point-to-point winner in the shape of Louth runner Mister Mister in the geldings’ maiden. 

Derek O’Connor and Real Warrior looked a potential threat approaching the final fence, but Kelleher’s mount was foot-perfect and found more in the race to the line to win by two lengths and give successful trainer Thomas McGeough his first winner of the season.

“That’s his ground and he absolutely loved it here today. He ran at Loughbrickland, but it was soft and he hated every yard of it. If there’s somebody out there with a few pounds he might be away,” said McGeough after greeting his winner.

Next local meeting at North Down on February 11.