Treble time at Tyrella

Treble time at Tyrella

6 March 2013

ANTRIM jockey William Thompson joined forces with Ian Ferguson’s powerful Ballymena stable to record a treble at the second East Down Foxhounds point-to-point meeting of the season at Tyrella on Saturday.

The middle leg of Thompson’s treble came when he partnered favourite Medieval Chapel to record a dead-heat in the second division of the geldings’ maiden after getting collared in the shadow of the post by Once and Always, who rallied well under Jamie Codd for the powerful Gordon Elliott stable.

In the first division Rollininthedeep, a faller last time out at Loughanmore, was foot perfect this time, running out a good winner for Thompson and Ferguson from Meath market drifter Mausefalle.

Onceuponathyme, a winner of the mares’ maiden at the previous Tyrella meeting, rewarded favourite backers when completing the treble for connections in the winners of two race.

Graham Wylie’s runner was providing Thompson with his eighth regional winner of the season, and made every post a winning one after leading from flag fall.

Conditions at the seaside track were as fast as they have been for many a year and the action kicked off with a seventh career success for Kildare jockey Barry Browne who got a great tune out of Dublin raider Mountain Tunes to run out a good five lengths winner of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden for trainer Cian Hughes.

Saturday’s meeting marked the fiftieth anniversary of East Down Foxhounds’ point-to-point races over the Corbett family lands with particular interest in the inaugural running of the Joe Magee Memorial Confined Hunt race.

Joe was a great supporter of East Down Foxhounds meetings at Tyrella and a popular face on the point-to-point circuit.

Clerk of the course Pat Turley paid an emotional tribute to Joe prior to the race before calling for a minute’s silence which was meticulously observed by all in attendance.

The race was won by Loughinisland jockey Danny Fitzsimons who excelled in the saddle when partnering Thornleigh Ben to a two-length success for Ballynahinch owner Gerry McPolin. Along the Lane and Jamie Codd finished second with Joe’s son Stephen back in third on Harps Counsel.

“Danny rode the perfect race,” said the smiling owner in the winner’s enclosure.

The final race of the day saw twelve runners face the starter with victory going the way of Brandy and Pep (10/1) in the hands of Wexford jockey Robert James who proved seven lengths to the good over Boite A Musique and Tipperary jockey Trevor Ryan.

The race was marred by a serious injury to Templepatrick rider Jonjo Bright, who took a crashing fall from Cally Bridge at the fifth fence.

The jockey sustained serious neck and arm injuries and was treated for a considerable time at the track before being transported to hospital.