Vital Island lined up for Ladies’ Cup repeat

RICHARD O’KEEFFE’S crosscountry performer Vital Island was the toast of Knockanard as banks racing returned to the Cork venue for the first time in about 70 years.

The 11-year-old Vital Island picked up the running under Benny Walsh well before the last in the Coolmore & Grange Stud open, which proved to be a big draw for the crowds

Successful in last season’s Ladies’ Cup at the Punchestown festival, he hinted he was set for another profitable campaign after holding off the veteran Space Cadet by a head in a thrilling finish with little over a length covering the first four home

“He loved the track and Benny knows him like the back of his hand,” Taghmon-based O’Keeffe said.

“He will probably go back for the Lingstown banks race on March 12 and then hopefully try to win the Ladies’ Cup again in April.”

Star performance

No Flies On Him got up in the dying strides to overhaul Jango Baie in a thriller

Derek O’Connor was seen to excellent effect when bringing newcomer No Flies On Him, a son of Westerner he also trains for JP McManus, from well off the pace to win the opening Tattersalls NH & Coolagown Stud four-year-old maiden.

No Flies On Him, an €82,000

Kildare At Punchestown Sunday

acquisition by Mike Hyde at last year’s Tattersalls Ireland Derby sale, was still only a moderate sixth after four out. However, he made smooth progress on the incline from the second-last to overtake leader Jango Baie 50 yards out to win by three-quarters of a length

“I’ve a very educational role with these horses and he seems a high-quality horse that will go to a trainer in the autumn,” O’Connor said of the close relation to the three-time Melbourne Cup winning mare Makybe Diva.

Th e Jo nat ha n Fo ga rt ytrained Denemethy stepped forwards from finishing second to Native Speaker at Ballindenisk on New Year’s Day by landing the Rathbarry Stud & Shinnicks Spar five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The Eoin O’Brien-ridden Denemethy, having a fourth start, became the only winner on the day to benefit fully from front-running tactics when beating newcomer Lowry’s Bar by four lengths

“I’ve had him since he was a three-year-old and he stepped up from the last day,” Fogarty said of the Gaynestown Stud Pa rt ne rship -o wn ed De nemet hy He’ ll no w probably be sold.”

Eighteen-year-old Danny Fitzgerald, from Carriganass near Inch, recorded a third su cc es s by la ndin g the Riordan’s SuperValu & AIB