Point-to-Point Weekly 29-03-23

Worldwide stars

Worldwide Furyshows afine turn of foot in the mudatPortrush for acompelling debut success Reports, pages 2-3

DEREK O’CONNOR

‘It was good to see the Gain Mares’ Final –one of the highlights of the season –won by Majestic Design, apromising mare with no shortage of winning relatives’ Page 4

❝has the potential to mature into one of the stable's leading novice hurdlers next season❞ RACING POST, 27/3/23

THEYELLOW CLAY impressed again when landing the Kevin McManus Bookmaker Champion Bumper (LR) at Limerick on Sunday for Gordon Elliott and owner/breeders Noel &Valerie Moran of Bective Stud

Champion Sire in 2021/22 and leading the way again in 2022/23

WINGED LEADER is on course to tackle the Grand National fences next month as he breezed to a wide-margin victory on his final start before the Aintree Foxhunters’.

The favourite for the April 13 race faced only two rivals in the Kelly’s Portrush open and last season’s Cheltenham second could not have been more dominant under Barry O’Neill.

On paper, the twice-placed Saint D’Oroux could have presented a challenge, but the race was over as a contest some way out, as the David Christietrained Winged Leader came home by 27½ lengths for his 12th pointing victory.

“He’s been a savage servant throughout his career,” David Christie jnr said. “We always thought he was an Aintree horse so it would be brilliant for him to show his class there.

“He needs two or three runs

Winged Leader warms up for Aintree in style

Star performance

Worldwide Fury made light of testing conditions to spark a Brian Lawless double

to get him at his peak, so he’ll improve for this.”

Plenty of supporters were on hand to congratulate Winged

Leader’s owners, local hoteliers John Hegarty and Jennifer O’Kane, who sponsor the Royal Court Hotel winners-of-two.

That race was a match and, although the market favoured the maiden I See You Now, it was the Taylorstown winner Knocky who dominated Noel McParlan sent the

BREE AT MONKSGRANGE SUNDAY

seven-year-old on at the second-last and he came home 55 lengths clear on his first start since June 2022.

Paul McAleese has one of the nearest stables to the venue but rider Brian Barry had one of the longest journeys to the course with a 600-mile round trip from Conna, County Cork.

The pair combined to land the Doherty & Gray maiden with River Box, whose dam Nosey Box won at Loughanmore 11 years ago, ridden by Barry’s elder brother John.

The six-year-old had ended last season on a positive note when third at Broughshane and, although absent for 11 months, McAleese, a farrier by trade, had the Arcadio gelding well prepared as he proved 14 lengths too good for Forkhill.

Forkhill’s trainer Colin McKeever also had a widemargin victory with Neo King in the O’Connor, Kennedy, Turtle & Tattersalls NH fiveyear-old geldings’ maiden. The Coastal Path gelding had failed to make an impact in two outings but zipped clear in the straight for Oran McGill to account for Ildefeel Du Livet.

Worldwide Fury maintained Donnchadh Doyle’s fine record

in four-year-old maidens here in the Dennison Commercialssponsored opener

A two-length victory for the €70,000 half-brother to Grade 1 winner Fury Road was a sixth victory in the age division for the Wexford handler here from 14 races the track has hosted.

Worldwide Fury’s rider Brian Lawless left with a double as he was reunited with Carrig Kate in the Macauley Wray & Philip Tweedie mares’ maiden.

The Wicklow rider had been on the Westerner mare, owned and bred by Maurice Sheehy, when she wa s fo ur th at Dromahane in December, so her seven-length defeat of All Loved Up was not unexpected.

“We always thought she’d put her head in front,” Lawless said. “The race didn’t go to plan the last day but she had the potential and has shown it today. She’s done that nicely.”

Dog days are over for Donoghue with Florence on song

THERE was no disguising the relief on Alan Donoghue’s face after a change in fortune saw him saddle his first pointing winner since February 2019.

Florencethemachine was the one to change the trainer’s lu ck whe n ma ki ng a bi g impression with a three-length victory in the Nitrofert five-yearold and up wa rd s ma re s’ maiden

A €7,000 purchase from the 2021 eGoffs Land Rover sale, the Malinas mare followed in the footsteps of her half-sister Spy Lady, a Ballingarry winner last season, by overcoming a serious error four-out to beat

Star performance

There was no disguising the superiority of San Frandisco, who created a big impression

the back-to-form Friars Island Lady by three lengths

“That’s our first runner out of our new yard,” Donoghue said.

“We were struggling big time for the last two or three years Everything was sick and we couldn’t get them right.

“She’s an absolute machine Gordon Elliott and Colin Bowe had runners in this and that’s

why I’m here. I could have won a race in Loughrea with her but the form wouldn’t have looked as good as it does here.”

Donoghue’s Kilmeague base is across the Grand Canal from Kildare breeder Ethel Flanagan, who welcomed Captain Butler into the winner’s circle after the Goffs UK Aintree Sale five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Flanagan bred the son of Mount Nelson with Sunnyhill Stud and the bay justified his favourite’s tag by beating the improved Captain Wallace by a short head under Barry O’Neill, and will now be offered for sale Jet Fighter kept up a good

UNITED AT BALLYNOE SUNDAY

day for Kildare raiders in the Ballywalter Farms geldings’ maiden on his second run for Peter Maher’s Donore yard Second in two outings for Yorkshire trainer Brian Ellison, the Jet Away gelding fought off three challengers from the last to beat Barry O’Neill on Seattle Seahawk by a short head.

He will now be aimed at the Bi sho ps co ur t Cu p at the Punchestown festival.

The ITBA four-year-old mares’ maiden also returned to Kildare when Ian McCarthy’s Ballybough Aine justified market support to make a winning debut under Pa King

The daughter of Milan had plenty on her plate two out but after the fall of Dromlac Jury at the last Mary Kearns’s mare swooped late to catch Joueuse Royale in the dying strides.

“We’ve always thought a lot of her; she comes from a good family,” McCarthy said. “She was doing her best work at the end and she stayed on strongly. She’s shown us a lot at home so we weren’t afraid to come and take on the big guns for once.”

The defeat of Joueuse Royale was one of three second places on the card for Colin Bowe, but he ended with a double when the Bertie Finn-partnered Tara

Cove added to Captain Butler’s win by dead-heating with Sean Doyle’s Old Style Humor in the Cooney Furlong winners-oftwo for novice riders Old Style Hu mor gave 21- ye ar-old Ballybeg-based Sean O’Rourke his first success in the saddle

Not for the first time, Mikey Sweeney worked wonders to stay in the saddle after a lastfence blunder This time his saddle slipped on San Frandisco, making his recovery all the more remarkable as they went on to beat Jasmin De Cotte by four lengths in the Tattersalls NH & IRE Well Pallets four-yearold geldings’ maiden

Queally hits the target again with Majestic Design

DECLAN QUEALLY landed his third Gain Mares’ Series final when Majestic Design gamely justified favouritism under Chris O’Donovan.

The bay had created a huge impression with a triumphant return on her first start for Queally at Castlelands and backers made the daughter of Imperial Monarch 4-5 favourite to beat seven opponents

Dul Ar Aghaidh was bounced out in front and Jimmy Kelly’s charge de ve lo pe d a nice rhythm, closely tracked by Majestic Design, who moved past her rival after the third-last to put favourite backers on good terms with themselves

Dul Ar Aghaidh rallied on the run-in to get to within two lengths of the winner, who

Star performance

Illico De Cotte clocked a quick time when winning by a wide margin on his debut

earned her Waterford handler a €3,000 bonus,

“She jumped brilliantly and could run in the winners’ final at Dromahane and the mares’ point-to-point bumper at Tipperary,” Queally said of Majestic Design, who is owned by her Cappoquin-based jointbreeder Fiona O’Connor

Mikey O’Connor kept his supporters happy in riding two winners, starting with the Brian Linehan-owned-andtr aine d new com er Th e

Passing Wife (pictured right) in the Goffs UK Aintree Sale

four-year-old maiden.

The Passing Wife, having been ridden patiently, hit the front two out where he did well

to survive a serious error and was half a length off Diamonds For Luck at the last The Mikey Kennedy-trained gelding fell there, leaving The Passing Wife, a son of Dashel Drasher’s sire Passing Glance, to beat Long Draw by four lengths

The winner, bred by Linehan’s Chipping Norton-based brother Maurice, is now likely to be sold.

O’Connor doubled up on Paul Tobin’s The Dollarlady in the Coolmore National Hunt, Liam Geary Garage & Mr Softee mares’ maiden.

The Dollarlady went one better at Knockanard last month, leading after the last to beat Imperial Fox by a length “She’s tough and consistent and will now go for a winners’

race,” owner-trainer Tobin said of the winner, in whom Shane Condon and Aidan Daly from Tallow also hold an interest.

Donnchadh Doyle introduced smart prospect Illico De Cotte, who destroyed his rivals under Alan Harney in the Tattersalls NH & Anthony & Associates Ltd five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Illico De Cotte, a son of Kitkou who is out of a sister to Listed-placed French chaser Brin De Cotte, travelled well before going clear two out to beat What A Johnny by 12 len gths in the Mo nbe g Syndicate silks

The Eugene O’Sullivantrained Dashing Perk landed The Winners Enclosure Bar, Coolagown Stud & Dermot

O’Leary Agri Ltd open, but gave his supporters a scare.

The Bandon winner led until overtaken before the last by the maiden Emotional Roller. However, Turlough O’Connor sent his aunt Irene Walsh’s 12-year-old Kayf Tara gelding back into the lead on the run-in to beat Emotional Roller by two and a half lengths

Nineteen-year-old Andy Burke Ott partnered a seventh career victory on his father Alex Ot t’s Bla ckpr in t in the Ra th ba rr y St ud, La ga n Concrete & Hurley’s SuperValu Midleton six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden. Owned by Eamonn Grainger, Blackprint made for home from three out to beat Clarabello by three lengths

AT LISRONAGH SATURDAY

IT WASa final-fence fall here last monthwhichruledRob James outofthe Cheltenham Festivalbut he enjoyed better fortune at the final fixture at the Tipperaryvenue this season

With his left arminasling, the Wexford riderwelcomed his Just Gino into the winner’s enclosureafter James Walsh guided the It’s Gino gelding home in the Goffs UK Aintree Sale four-year-old maiden.

OutofanAlbertoGiacometti

Flat-race mare, James’s€26,000 purchase showed plenty of speed to hold fellownewcomer Electric Jetbyalength.

“Since dayone,he’sbeena nicehorse,” Jamessaid.“We fanciedhim todayand hada few quid on at aniceprice He’ll be sold now.”

Ellen Doyle struckanother blow for Wexford handlers when WoodbrookBoy wonhis thirdopenofthe season in the JOL Bloodstock ladies’open.

No match forBold Enough at Kirkistown twoweeks ago, the decision to bypass Cheltenham wasrewarded.

Cara McGoldrickcontinued her goodpartnershipwith the nine-year-old as theyfinished six lengths ahead of Ballyragget winner RussianDiamond.

Just Gino givesJames a lift afterfestivalmiss

Star performance

JustGino justifiedthe confidenceofconnections with hisdebut success

“Hewas just pureclass and he makesmyjob so easy,” McGoldricksaid.“Ican’t thank Ellen and James enough,they do asuper job in traininghim.”

Pallas Athene carved out her reputationasthe €60,000 Milan mare made the best start to her career in the Kenilworth HouseStudmares’maiden.

Localowner TrishHyde’s grandson HarrySwanwas on the five-year-old half-brother to JessicaHarrington’sPunches to wn fes tiv al wi nner Crosshill, and theycomfortably hadthe measureofFairland.

Thevictorywas a15th of the season for SamCurling,who supported hislocal fixture by

sponsoringthe maiden which yieldedthe card’s biggest field.

BenHalsall’s CoolroeLady hadcaughtthe eyeonher first

GALWAY BLAZERS AT LOUGHREA SUNDAY

Al Gasparoblazestrail on aday of dramatic finishes

ONLY 29 horsestook to the trackbut thescarcity of runners did little to diminish the drama on aday of tightfinishes

TheTattersalls NH four-yearold maiden setthe template as three of the sevenstarters approached the last of the 16 fences with everychance, butit was Al Gasparo who pickedup best to fend off Walk On Quest and Itseemslikeit

An encouragingthird in quickerconditions at Bellharbour lastmonth,when owned by Paul Hennessy,the Al Namix geldingwas sporting new colourshereand he is the second four-year-old maiden winner this month –after Kap D’Ange at Ballycahane –to carrythe silksofSusan Barton.

Itseemslikeit’s handler Sam Curlingdid not leaveempty handedashis star mare La Feline recordedher fifth success of theseason in the Galway Races mares’ open.

Th ev ictor yf or De re k

O’Connor’s mountdid come in disappointingcircumstances as she wasthe only one of sevenentries to be declared, which produceda walkover

O’Connor’s brother Paurick looked likeaddingtothe family’ssuccesseswhen his newcomerCarapaz looked to be going stronglyin frontuntil

Star performance

Annie Expressdictatedfrom thefront and had therace sewn up along wayout

comingdownatthe penultimatefence in the JimDerwin Equestrian adjacentmaiden.

Askmore seized the chance presentedand theCharles Clarke-owned andbredson of Ask,who hadpulleduponhis Nenagh debut, beat newcomer IllegalD’Ainay by alength

“All ourhorses were sickand he pulledupand wasn’twell,” said SarahSmyth,wife of handler Brian Hassett.

“Wewentbacktothe drawing boardand got him healthy again.He’snot abad horse.We think agood bitofhim,soitwas greatthat he showed it today.”

Thewin broughtKilworth nativeDarragh Allen to the tenwinner mark forthe season for the second timeinhis career, and in the Westport Equipment winner-of-one ByronTully recordhis firstcareersuccess

Hispatienttactics on Step Up Son helpedthe pair take advantage as theironly rivals, Inchidaly Robin andProphet’s Corner,took each other on.

David Walsh’s seven-yearold hadten lengths to spare over Inchidaly Robin to give

Leitrim riderTully his glory.

Ji mO ’Nei ll, brother of six-time champion rider Barry, hadsentout his firstrunner as ahandler at Lisronagh24hours earlier, and it wasasanowner that he visitedthe winner’s enclosureherewhen Annie Express landedthe ITBA mares’ maiden.

TrainedbySean Doyle,the Getawaymarebouncedbackto the promiseshe hadshown at Loughanmoreonher debut11 months agobycomfortably holdingBelclareeyecatcher SarahBearabyseven lengths

“She wasalwaysanice filly. Herworkwas very good and we thoughtshe wasgood enough to winafour-year-old, butshe just gotabit weak and wasstill growing,”O’Neill said. “She’ll probably go to the sales now.”

Ri si ng De rr ys tar Da ra McGill kept his four-winner margin in the under-21 riders’ table when Whistle Stop Tour, his firstridefor Tipperary handler TomKeating, landed the Farrell Auctioneers,Valuers &Estate Agentsfive- and sixyear-old geldings’maiden.

TheSaddexgelding beat only onehorseonhis Knockanard debutlastmonth butheput that experience to good usein outbattlingnewcomer Primoz by three-quartersofa length

stable outingwhen exiting three outatLingstown but therewerenosuchissues as Troy Walshguidedher to a

defeatofSampoet.

Apresentationwas made by Ti pp er ar yF ox ho un ds chairman Sean Brettand clerk

of the courseAiden Kennedy to the Skehanaghstables owner and rider Pa King to mark their Cheltenham successwith Angels Dawn

King wasonthe scoresheet whenhesupplied Doneraile handlerBrendan Walsh with his firstwinnerinhis firstseason with ahandler’s permit Walsh’s Snow Punt wasout of luckwhen fallingatKildorrery wheninthe lead,and it washis turn to enjoyarub of the gr een in the Sh er ry Fitzgerald CountryHomes older geldings’maiden. Abad mistakefromthe Snow Skygelding at the second-last handedthe initiativetoIts Just NotInIt, onlyfor that rivaltoerr at the last.That dramaallowed the baytowin by twolengths Brian Barrywas amongthe Portrush winners and his older brother John upheld family honours here as he movedon to the15markfor the season in the TattersallsNH&Pat Doyle five-year-old geldings’maiden on NasNaRiogh

TheWalk In TheParkgelding made amends for his fall when well backedfor his Cragmore, debutwithahalf-length defeat of Beau Walkingfor John Murphyand Oisin Mahon.

Woodbrook Boywas “justpureclass”accordingtoCaraMcGoldrickafter theylanded theopen

HEALYRACING

DerekO’Connor Straight to thePoint WorldwideFurylooks anotherstar on Doyle’sconveyorbeltoftalent

THE standardinfour-yearold maidens continues to be strong. Last Saturday’s Portrush winner WorldwideFuryisthe mostrecentinalonglist of promisingyoungsters producedby Donnchadh Doyle.

TheJukebox Jury geldingshowed a fine turn of foot for Brian Lawless between thelasttwo fences and kept on strongly to beat Tough Approach by twolengths

Therewereonly fiverunners but theyall came from goodhomes When thereisnoformtogoonwith theseyoung horses,you canoften get an impressionofthe likelystrength of the race by seeing whowas involved with the beaten horses

In this case,the signsare definitely positive. Warren Ewingisthe ownertrainer of the runner-up,third-placed Ballybrittas is from the powerful Colin McKeever/Wilson Dennison team,and fourth-placedTom Doniphon is trainedbythe champion handler Colin Bowe for Walter Connors, one of the best judges of potential jumping talent in the business

WorldwideFurywas purchased by the Monbeg Syndicatefor €70,000 at the Goffs Land RoverSaleand hasa pedigreetomatch the abilityhe showed on his debut.

He’s ahalf-brother to the Gordon Elliott-trainedFuryRoad,who wona Grade 1novice chaseat Leopardstown lastseasonand is not far off the best of the stayingchasers at the moment, finishingthirdin

Grade 1races wonbyGalopin Des Champs and Conflated this term following aGrade 2win at Down Royal.

Iremember being impressed by Fury Road when he waswith Pat Doyleinhis early days.Irodehim firsttime outina maiden at Stowlin wonbythe top-classMonkfish

Thenexttime he ranIwas on El Barrafor Robert Tynerat

Dromahane,and Fury Road beatus easily. El Barrahas turnedout to be a smarthorse for Willie Mullins as well.

Youcan never guaranteethat lightningwillstriketwice,but I wouldn’t be surprised if Worldwide Fury makesatop-classhorse in the longterm. He’s alsoahalf-brother to Monbeg Worldwide,who unfortunatelynever gotthe chance

to fulfil his potential sincehe suffered afatal injuryina novice hurdle at Thurles

After winningapoint-to-pointat Lismore, he wasunbeaten in three bumpers and wontwice over hurdles in the early part of his novice season.

WorldwideFury’s damMollyDuffy was bred by KenParkhill outofVictorine,an unracedhalf-sister to the Champion Hurdle winners MorleyStreetand Granville Again.

Victorine’s progenyinclude City Island,who wonthe Ballymore for Martin Brassil, as well as acouple of multiple winners for both Jonjo O’Neilland Willie Mullins.It’sa really strong pedigree.

Talkingofpedigree, it wasgood to see Sunday’sGain Mares’ Finalat Ballynoe –alwaysone of the highlights of the season –won by a

promisingmarewith no shortage of winningrelatives

TheDeclanQueally-trained Majestic Design backedupher recentwide-margin Castlelands maiden winwith atough performance under Chris O’Donovan.

Sheisout of NativeDesign, aBe

My Nativemarewho hasproduceda number of useful winners

My Design, whostartedoff by winningaBorrisHouse maiden for Shane O’Brien and is nowpartofthe Queally team, is provingtobethe best of them.She wonamares’ maiden hurdle at Fairyhousefor Shane lastseason buthas really come into her ownsince switchingto chasingthis month,winninga beginners’event at Clonmel and takingsecond behind the talented Bachasson in aconditions race at the same venue.

Ding dong!

Sometimes when you look backinto the records to checkout apedigree, you come up acrossalittle detail that ringsabig bell. That wasmy experience when researchingNative Design’s race record.

Twenty years agolastweek, on March22, 2003, she ranina bumper at Navan. Shewas ridden by 7lb claimer Mr DO’Connorand finished eighth of 25. Therace waswon by BraveInca, who wonthe Supreme Novices’the following season and the Champion Hurdle in 2006. That wasn’t the only time Native Design ranagainst afuturebig-name horseina bumper.Infact,her claim to fame is that shebeatthe subsequentGrand National winner Numbersixvalverde in a30-runner race at Navan. Tony Martin rode her that day, and Kevin O’Ryan wason the second.

Twenty years later Tony Martin (Good Time Jonny) and BraveInca’s trainer ColmMurphy(Impervious) saddledwinners at the Cheltenham Festival,and Numbersixvalverde’s trainer Martin Brassilwas unlucky not to do the same with twofestival runners –AnEpicSongand Fastorslow–both runners-up in photo finishes.Kevin is busy as a jockeys’agent and on RacingTV, and I’mstill ridingwinners.That’s nota bad outcome for all of us,Ireckon. Unfortunately, my most recent winner,LaFeline, in the mares’ open at Loughrea on Sunday, came about in circumstances that didn’t giveany pleasuretoanyone involved.This wasa walkover,thankfullyarare occurrence in points thesedays. TheSam Curling-traineddaughter of Martaline waschampionmarelast season and already hadfourwins this season. Therewas onepositive sequel to the story, however, as owner John O’Learygenerously donatedall the prize-moneytothe organisers, the Galway Blazers Hunt committee. Finally, congratulations to two individuals who celebrated landmark winners at the weekend. Brian Linehan, who hasbeenassociated with the Enda Bolger stable,trained his first winner,The PassingWife,the firstleg of adouble for Mikey O’Connor,inthe four-year-old maiden at Ballynoe. Andat Loughrea,Byron Tully rode his first winner on Step On Sonfor David Walsh in the winner-of-one.

‘MyDesign hasreally come into herown since switchingto chasing this month, winninga beginners’ eventat Clonmeland taking second behind the talented Bachasson’

Majestic Design followedupher Castlelands maidenvictory threeweeks agobylandingthe Gain Mares’ Seriesfinal

HEALYRACING

3,400,000 Guineas yearling, Group 2 winner at 2 and dual Group 1 winner at 3 by GALILEO

Breed to MOGUL this season and be in with a chance to win a free nomination to WALK IN THE PARK, CRYSTAL OCEAN or MOGUL himself. Give Robert a call today!

Contact: David Magnier, Albert Sherwood, David O’Sullivan, Andrew Magnier & Catherine Magnier: 025-33006. Robert McCarthy, Bobby McCarthy & Peter Kenneally: 058-56254. Tom Gaffney, Joe Hernon, Paddy Fleming, Cathal Murphy & Barry Kennedy: 025-31966.

Colt ex Pretty Wreckless, a blacktype performer over fences out of an own-sister to NICK DUNDEE and half-sister to NED KELLY

Filly ex Whatagoa, a half-sister to Graded-winning hurdler

KATE APPLEBY SHOES, herself out of a half-sister to Grade 2 winner and Grade 1 performer SPIRIT OF PARK