MICHAEL
Kiely’s Place was one of threeweekendwinners for Alan O’Sullivan, honouring his brother Michaelinthe best possible way, Reports, pages 2-3
Alan O’Sullivan on Kiely’sPlace (near side) gets the better of Pa King on The Kite Runner at Bandon
DEREK O’CONNOR
‘If we can take any comfort from an event as awful as Michael O’Sullivan’s death it’s that we belong to acommunity that comes together to be supportive’ Page 4
DUHALLOW AT KILDORRERY SATURDAY
Emotional reception for O’Sullivan victory
A HE AR TFELT ro und of ap pl au se gr ee te d Al an O’Sullivan, younger brother of the late Michael, after he steered his uncle Eugene O’Sullivan’s Made U Look to victory at the rescheduled Duhallow Foxhounds fixture.
Made U Look was favourite for the five-runner Rathbarry Stud and STR Scrap Metal Dealers older geldings’ maiden after having finished second to Ebenezer Scrooge in the €1,500 bonus race at Ballyvodock.
He disputed the running with Mount Rinjani until Rebel Budz swept to the front at the fourth-last but that rival made an error at the next and Made U Look went on to score by three and a half lengths in the silks of Galwegian Alfie Lawless.
“He’s a lovely horse and will stay pointing if not sold,” O’Sullivan said.
The Sean Doyle-owned and -trained Between Waters, who was placed twice over hurdles for Nicky Henderson, has been a revelation since returning to the pointing sphere this season and the daughter of Walk In The Park landed her fourth success when making all under Jamie Scallan in the John McSweeney Livestock Hauliers and Vaughan Family open.
Star performance
Keep Him Company took command at the home bend from where he soon had a debut success sewn up
The imposing mare gave a sublime jumping performance and was always in control as she beat West Cork Wildway by a length
“She was a bit fresh today,” Doyle said. “This is as good as I’ve seen her jump and we’ll tip away in points this season. We wouldn’t run her on ground any better than this I’m hoping she’ll get black type next season.”
Conor Costello earned a sixth win on his father John Costello’s debutant Keep Him Company in the Hanley’s Butchers fiveyear-old geldings’ maiden.
The French-bred travelled well close to the pace and eased to the front two out before putting four lengths between himself and West Of Idaho in a race in which newcomers occupied the first three places
The elder Costello owns the son of Walzertakt – who is out of a sister to bet365 Gold Cup winner Quentin Collonges –and said: “We always thought he was a nice horse but he hadn’t been for a schooling
race He’ll hopefully go to the Cheltenham sale.”
There was another fatherson success in the Gain Equine Nutrition, Crossmore Tyres Recycling, Thornhill Opticians five- and six-year-old mares’ maiden when Mystic Malina scored under handler Donie Murphy’s son James Murphy.
The only six-year-old in the line-up and representing Ballincurrig publican Anthony Smart, Mystic Malina led at the last to beat Ballingurteen by one and a half lengths
Ellen Doyle sent out the winner of the Coolmore NH Stallions four-year-old mares’ maiden for the third consecutive year when Divine Diva won on her debut.
The daughter of Milan, a three-quarters sister to Johnjoe Walsh’s 150-rated hurdler Davids Charm, took command at the second-last under Brian Dunleavy to beat Lennon Grove by two lengths in the Baltimore Stables silks.
Mohera King, trained by Sean Aherne for Maurice Barry, stepped up from his Knockanard fourth to assert under Stefan Tobin and beat Paddyskatie in the Munster Van Centre, Dairygold adjacent hunts maiden for novice riders.
EAST DOWN AT TYRELLA SATURDAY
Meeting called off due to lack
WARREN EWING’S Lazare Combo was the only winner at the curtailed second fixture of the season at the coastal venue of Tyrella
A first son of the French stallion Chanducoq to feature in an Irish point-to-point, the £9,000 Goffs UK store sale purchase made an immediate
CARLOW FARMERS AT BORRIS HOUSE SUNDAY
Nevershedatear takes Hendrick to his century
JACK HENDRICK joined the century club as Nevershedatear became his 100th pointto-point winner
The daughter of Getaway made all in the Duninga Gallops four-year-old mares’ maiden, which became a match after six rivals were pulled up
There was a moment of doubt, however, as Nevershedatear made a mistake at the last but she recovered to beat Might Be The One by two lengths
“She jumps so well,” said Wexford handler Tom Byrne.
“She wings her fences and stays all day. The plan was to let her use her high cruising speed and she was well able to do it.” She looks a shrewd purchase after being knocked down for €9,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland July sale last year, and connections will no doubt hope to reap the rewards of that investment.
Hendrick wasted no time in pursuing his second ton when partnering Matthew Flynn
O’Connor’s Port Authority in the Innovetec five-year-old geldings’ maiden. The Doyen debutant was a fortunate winner as he was a length adrift of long-time leader Keno Black when that rival crashed at the last, leaving Port Authority to beat Karting KO by eight lengths Flynn O’Connor had his own final-fence misfortune when it looked a double was on the cards in the Connolly’s Red Mills older geldings’ maiden.
Jasmin Des Blins was looking good in pole position but an error cost him lengths and he dropped to third as Nighttime Lover came through for trainer Cormac Byrne and jockey Gearoid O’Loughlin. Eighteen-year-old leaving
cert student James Costello made it a day to remember by riding his first winner on his opening ride of the season.
It came on Lyreen Og in the Maureen Mullins Memorial adjacent maiden, although the Galway rider had his work cut out, with the Tony Martintrained five-year-old proving a handful in the preliminaries
He got loose in the parade ring and was on his toes at the start where he began the race from outside the starting chute
That act came under the stewards’ scrutiny after the Daniel Houlihan-owned son of Blue Bresil had beaten Better Times by two and a half lengths.
After lengthy deliberation, the €70,000 Goffs Arkle sale purchase was confirmed the winner to the relief of his team
“He’s a good horse and had been showing plenty, but we thought first time out might be asking too much,” Martin said.
“James was excellent on him
Star performance Lazare Combo is a sharp sort who was suited by the speed test Tyrella presents
impact for his sire, who is a half-brother to French Listed hurdles winner Cokoriko.
Always to the fore under Oran
McGill, deputising for his sidelined brother Dara, the bay had market rival Kings Order for company through much of the race, the Dennison Commercials four-year-old maiden. A swift leap at the secondlast saw him quicken two lengths clear and, although Kings Order was still in pursuit
He hasn’t been an easy horse but the young lad has done all the work with him so it’s great for him and the owner.”
Gary Murphy introduced two nice newcomers, with Chosen Comrade impressing in the first division of the Duninga Gallops four-year-old mares’ maiden.
A home bred for ow ner
Francis Whelan, the Walk In The Park mare was one of two finishers in a strongly run race and had plenty in reserve to fend off Shukran Habibti
“She did a piece of work at
Maurice Day’s place and a gallop in Monksgrange and I said to the boys we have a proper one here,” Murphy said.
The handler turned to rider Barry Stone for Moments In Time who jumped well in the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale, Cobajay Stables four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The €20,000 Goffs Arkle sale purchase raced asserted in the home straight and a footperfect leap at the last sealed a 24-l en gth vict or y ov er I Walked The Line
“He jumps, travels and is a proper good one,” Murphy said. “You don’t get these every day. This is my first double as a handler, so this is great.” Claire O’Connell has the Gain Mares Final in mind for Glenmalure Lady after the daughter of Famous Name stepped up from a maiden win at Cragmore to impress in the Jim Treacy Memorial Cup. Joey Dunne’s mount left six rivals trailing from the home bend as she brushed aside Carry On Heidi by 14 lengths
Moments In Time completes a first double for handler Gary Murphy
CARBERYATBANDON SUNDAY
Shineensures PriceOfPeace givesCrowley perfectfirst visit
BENNYCROWLEYmade his firstvisit to Bandon awinning one when saddling ThePrice Of Peace to landabloodless victoryinthe Glenview.ie older geldings’maiden.
Theconcludingleg of a double for CalShine,last month’s Dungarvanrunner-up disputedthe runningwith favourite SirBenduff until edgingintoa couple of lengths advantage over the marketleader when DarraghAllen’s mountmadea race-ending blunder twoout
Star performance
ThePrice Of Peace wasin aleague of hisown as he madeamendsfor an early departure at Knockanard with a32-length victory
the Christmas Dromahane meeting, waskeenearly on beforemovingthrough to shadowThe Kite Runner from four out. He edged into aslight advantage at thelast wherea faster jump allowed him to hold his rivalbyashorthead.
Slieve Donard,the IrishSea and thetownofNewcastle form thebackdropfor thesoleracethattook placeatTyrella
of medicalcover
when fallingatthe last, Lazare Combo hadhis measureand returned twolengths clear of EllenDoyle’s newcomer The Launderer
“He’salovelyhorse,”Ewing said after his second successof the season. “I alwaysreally liked him and he worked well at home.Hejumps very well
“He’sbyanup-and-coming sireinChanducoq and he will nowheadtothe festival sale in Cheltenham,whereI hopehe’ll sell well.”
Racingwas abandonedafter theopenerwhenboth ambulanceshad left the trackand it wasclear theywould not return in reasonable time
ThePrice Of Peace,who was travellingthe betterofthe pair at the time,was left with an un as sa il ab le adv an ta ge , although the six-year-old hadto surviveafinal-fence blunder beforebeatingthe onlyother finisher,Dacman, by 32 lengths
“Heloved the soft ground and will go for awinners’ race now, provided he’s not sold,” saidCrowley, whosewinneris ah al f- br ot he rt oS ha rk Hanlon’ssix-time winning mare Dime ADozen.
Banteerrider Shine was earlieronthe mark on Damian Murphy’snewcomer Walking In Mayo in the Bandon Motors and Bandon Co-opmares’ maiden.
LIMERICKATBALLYCAHANE SUNDAY
Oneofsix debutants in the line-up,the Walk In ThePark mare movedcloser from two outand the€16,000 acquisition at the 2023 Tattersalls Ireland July saleswept to the frontt o b fellowfirst-tim CoillteMCG by 15 lengths.
WalkingIn Mayo,whose dam is ahalfsister to Grade 3w inni ng chaser Keeper Hill,isthe fir horseMurphy tr aine df or Alb er ta Capital Ltd. It’s probable that WalkingInMayowill be sold.
Alan O’Sullivan alsorodea double,openingthe meeting with victoryonhis uncle Eugene O’Sullivan’s Kiely’s Place in the Foxwood Stallions five-year-old geldings’maiden.
TheWings Of Eagles gelding, who pulleduponhis debutat
“L oo kin gath im go in g around the parade ring I thoughtthat he’d need the run. If he’s notsold, he’ll probably runatCorkoverEaster,”said O ’ Su lli va n, wh ose ner is ahalfster to ir mi ng ha m Alabama,who landed athird tracksuccess for Eamon Delaneyina Leopardstown andicap hurdle Monday. ullivan brought up his double on ownertr aine rG ar ry Ahern e’s seasonal debutant OurStory inthe KevinO’LearyGroup andCoolagown Stud winnersof-one
Th es ev en-y ear -old Quakerstown maiden winner came from well off the pace to hold anarrowadvantage at the lastfromwherehekeptMikey
Hulie at baytowin by ahead OurStorywill nextrun at the Kilworth meetingonMarch 16. Luke Kelleher,a23-year-old Macroomriderwho hasa degree in electrical engineering from CorkInstitute of Technology,had his firstwinneron his uncle GerryKelleher’s newcomer Loyal Praetorian in the SpringmountStudand Denis and Mary Ryan CarSales adjacenthunts maiden Favourite Mister Loolah led until LoyalPraetoriansurged past approachingthe lastfrom where thefive-year-old sonof SoldierOfFortune pulledone and ahalf lengths clearinthe coloursofthe ClareNewell& MichaelKelleher Partnership Dundaniel (left),winnerofa hunter chaseand twopoints races,madeavictorious return to the fr ay in the Chr is McCarthy Greenbuild and Barryroe Co-opnovice riders open on his first startfor handler NiallKelleher
Theten-year-old pickedup the runningfor PatrickGleeson at the second-lasttobeatRun Wild Fred by alength and ahalf in the colours of the fourmemberOne In TheBarrell Partnership from Riverstick.
Hat-trickshows whyO’Connorisarecord-breaker
DEREK O’CONNOR starred with ahat-trickasthe 11-time champion showed racegoers whyheisthe mostsuccessful point-to-pointrider of all time
Thesedays, the Fiddaun nativecombines race-riding with his burgeoningtraining operationand it wasa horsehe produced, Hardly Surprising, who openedO’Connor’streble in the TattersallsIreland Derby Sale,Dunraven Arms four-yearold geldings’maiden.
The€80,000 purchase at the sponsor’s2024 sale is ahalfbrother to the Grade 1-winning Fiddlerontheroof, and the JP McManus-ownedAffinisea geldingcame from off the pace under acustomarycool waiting ride to pickoff the well-backed favourite MisterStEloi after the last to winbyahead
“He’sveryclassy,”O’Connor said.“Like all of mine, he was babyish early on and will come on plenty for that run. He’s very excitingand is onewe’ll be hearingplenty moreabout.”
O’Connor’s other wins were suppliedbylong-standingally Sa mCur lin g, wi th Ne on
Star performance
AshHobbs delivered on his connections’expectations with an impressivedebut
Dream impressinginthe Blue Door,James BarryMotors and Aqua Process Solutions fiveyear-old geldings’maiden.
TheGetawaygeldinghad disappointedinheavy ground at Ballyknockonhis debuta year agobut he gave amuchimproved performance on his return by brushing aside Keep Joybyfourlengths
“He’sanice horse we picked outatthe DerbySale,”Curling said. “I made the mistakeof runninghim on bottomless ground lastyear in Ballyknock. He’salwaysworkedwell and we were expectingthattoday.”
It wasall very easy forthe final legofO’Connor’s hat-trick when TheGreat Unknown justified shortodds by bringing upahat-trickofher owninthe Noreen McManusmares’open.
Thesix-year-old hasthrived sinc ej oi nin gC ur li ng ’s Skehanaghstablesand followed
up wins at Bellharbourand Knockanardbybeating Bents Hollow by alengthand ahalfin the si lk so ft he wi nnin g handler’s motherAdelia Greer.
“That ground wasasgood as she’dwantit,”Curling said. “She maygofor another mares’ open or amares’hunter chase in CorkoverEaster.”
O’Connorhad hopes of
openingthe daywith awin when TeenageKissstarted odds-on for theJohnO’Connell Feeds, Paul LeonardConstruction four-yearold mares’ maiden.
However, she wasput in her place by Ha rl ey Du nne’s impressivenewcomer Ash Hobbs,a daughter of Jack Hobbs,who cruised into the lead under Bertie Finn off the
home bend and swiftlytook control to winbyninelengths
“I’vealwaysthoughtthe worldofher,” Dunnesaid. “I almost ranher against the geldings in Oldtown afew weeks agobut decidedtogive her abit moretime
“Bertiewas very impressed with her todayand she’ll head on to the festival sale now.”
Paul O’Neill is aveteranpoints rider and hadhis 50th winner when MonEuil came back from 11 months off to land the AnnacottyFarmShop,Limerick Foodsgeldings’maiden.
RonnieO’Leary’slightly racednine-year-old racedfour times over hurdlesand he made an immediate impact in this sphere by takingthe scalp of the favourite Chiefs Kingdom by three-quarters of alength
“He’salovely horsebut we’ve hadtobepatient,”O’Leary said. “Paulgavehim agreat ride; he timedittoperfection. He hasa mark over hurdles,sohe’ll head backtothe track.”
Owning Flower outran her odds to makegawinningdebut in the Gain EquineNutrition, HoganStand Barfive-year-oldand-upwardsmares’maiden. Arareoutinginthe saddle for Simon Cavanagh,who is busy in his new handler role, sawthe Westmeath native bringDavid O’Brien’schargeto the frontatthe second-lastand the pair went on to beat the favouriteJennyfromtheblock by three-quartersofa length
Pictures: HEALYRACING
Derek O’Connor Straight to thePoint
It will be emotional at Cheltenham
FOR all of us involved in point-to-points, the most important thing last weekend was seeing Alan O’Sullivan in the winner’s enclosure at Kildorrery on Saturday and Bandon on Sunday.
I can’t imagine what life has been like for the O’Sullivan family since that terrible day at Thurles early last month I can only say that Alan, like his late brother Michael, is an amazing man.
When speaking at Michael’s funeral, their father William said how Michael would want the family to support Alan in whatever decisions he made and “to find joy in his achievements”. William said he would wish the same for his cousins, friends and jockey colleagues
Alan has shown great strength of character, bravery and determination in returning to the saddle He’s honouring his brother in the best way possible by continuing his riding career
It was fitting he teamed up with his uncle Eugene – who did so much to boost Michael’s early career – to win with Made U Look at Kildorrery.
The pair won the five-year-old maiden at Bandon with Kiely’s Place, and Garry Ahern supplied Alan’s third winner of the weekend, Our Story, who did well to take the
RESULTS
Foxhounds
winner-of-one on his seasonal debut.
Impressive Moments
It wasanother weekend that saw many fineperformances in thefouryear-old division. Perhaps the most impressive wasthe Gary MurphytrainedMoments In Time who was already well in controlunder Barry Stone when hisnearest rival, Carrillo,fell at the last in the geldings’maiden at BorrisHouse He wasleft alongway clear of the CormacDoyle-trained favourite I Walked TheLine. Moments In Time is a son of Kingston Hill and a halfbrother to A Perfect Day, who was trained by Doyle last season and sold after finishing
‘Alan has shown great strength of character, bravery and determination in returning to the saddle’
83 Lennon Grove (IRE) 4 11-11 Derek O’Connor ...........2 2
b m by Walk In The Park (IRE) - Roc N Roe (IRE) (Mahler) ww twrds rr, 5th from 5th, clsr aftr 5out, 2nd aftr 3out, ld from 2out, hdd aftr 2out, no ex bef last RPR 81 Aloo Bonda (IRE) 4 11-11 L J Murphy .........13 3 b m by Shirocco (GER) - Even Betty (IRE) (Flemensfirth(USA))
ld, chall bef 2out where hdd, no ex in 3rd aftr 2out & held in 6l 3rd when mstk last, wknd RPR 68 Krystal Sky (IRE) 4 11-11 FAV J W Hendrick tr ldr in 2nd from 4th, 2l 2nd when mstk 8th, cl 3rd aftr 4out, no impr when mstk 2out, pu bef last P Maunaloa (FR) 4 11-11 J C Barry alw last, mstk 5th & jmpd left 4out, cto when pu bef 3out P Phantom Of Delight (IRE) 4 11-11 J L Scallan chsd ldrs, mstk 1st, mstk 8th, cl 2nd aftr
second at Dawstown in May. He won a novice hurdle at Wincanton by 13 lengths on his only start so far for his new stable
Runner-up I Walked The Line has a strong pedigree He’s out of a sister to The Tullow Tank, who won two Grade 1 novice hurdles The dam, Autumn Clouds, is a half-sister to Grand National winner Many Clouds. Gary Murphy and Barry Stone also won the first division of the fouryear-old mares’ maiden with Chosen Comrade, a filly by Walk In The Park Also on the mares’ front, the Harley Dunne-trained Ask Hobbs impressed me when picking up well from two out for Bertie Finn to beat my runner Teenage Kiss at Ballycahane
Ladbrokes Trophy. It’s still early days with this fellow. I was happy to get him off on a winning note.
Other notable winners included the Ellen Doyle-trained Milan filly Divine Diva, who won the opening race at Kildorrery for Brian Dunleavy, and Warren Ewing’s French-bred gelding Lazare Combo, who won the only race run at Tyrella, where the rest of the meeting had to be abandoned because of a lack of ambulance cover.
Jack Hendrick reached a landmark when Neversheadatear took the second division of the mares’ maiden at Borris House for owner-handler and Wexford hurler Tom Byrne
After that defeat, I rode Hardly Surprising to make a winning debut in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden. He’s a half-brother by Affinisea to Fiddlerontheroof, who started with Shirley Berry in pointers and won a bumper for John Joe Walsh before becoming one of the stars of the Colin Tizzard stable, winning the Tolworth Hurdle and finishing second in the Brown Advisory Chase and Newbury’s
3rd, 4th by 4th, 5l 3rd bef 3out where left 2nd, ld aftr 2out, hdd bef last, no ex & 3rd flat RPR 69 148 Queens Sky 5 11-6 Troy Walsh(5) ld/disp til 2nd bef 3out where left with 5l adv, hdd aftr 2out, drpd to 4th bef last where mstk, no ex RPR 68 1 2 4 179 Call Me Annie (IRE) 5 11-11 FAV A O’Sullivan mid-div best, 5th from 2nd, still 5th when left 4th but b hmprd 3out, fair 5th & no ex aftr 2out, wknd RPR 61 ...........7 5 Dangan Moon (IRE) 5 11-6 E T Mellerick(5) twrds rr, 6th from 7th & mstk 6out, fair 7th bef 4out where mstk, cto 6th from 3out RPR 50. .........35 6 198 Valhalla Mist (IRE) 5 11-11 C J Shine alw last, mstk 3rd, cto bef 3out, kpt gng RPR 50 .........16 7 Walk The Hall (IRE) 5 11-11 FAV J C Barry ld/disp on outer gng well bef 4out, ld bef 3out but mstk & fell a few strides aftr 3out F SP 4/1 TIME 6m 25.00s 8 ran OWNER: C A Smart; HANDLER: Daniel G. Murphy
313 Hanleys Butchers 5yo Geldings Maiden (5yo) abt 3m KEEP HIM COMPANY (FR) 5 11-11 C J Costello(5) 1
b g by Walzertakt (GER) - Anais Collonges (FR) (Dom Alco(FR)) pr went 2nd bef 3out ld bef 2out & 4l adv gng best bef last, kow, comfortably RPR 93 West Of Idaho (IRE) 5 11-11 R Sugrue(5) ...........4 2 b g by Idaho (IRE) - Western Squadron (IRE) (Westerner) mid-div on inner, 5th from 5th, cl 4th aftr 4out, 2nd 2out, 4l 2nd & no ch with wnr aftr 2out, kow RPR 89 Ballindenisk (IRE) 5 12-2 J C Barry ...........2 3 b g by Walk In The Park (IRE)
This was the 100th point winner of Jack’s career and he completed a double on Port Authority for Matthew Flynn O’Connor in the fiveyear-old geldings’ maiden.
Jack had his best season last term with 27 wins from 155 rides He has 18 on the board from 83 rides this season, so he’s well on course to better last season’s total. He shares third place in the table with Jamie Scallan, with the pair only five behind last year’s joint champions Rob James and Barry O’Neill on 23.
There’snothing likeyour first Every winner is important to a rider, but there’s nothing quite like the first
John J Costello; HANDLER: John J Costello
Munster Van Centre & Dairygold 5yo+ Adjacent MaidenNov Riders (5yo+) abt 3m 297 MOHERA PRINCE (IRE) 7 12-2 S Tobin 1 ch g by Dansant - Toocloseforcomfort (IRE) (Croco Rouge(IRE)) tr ldr in 2nd, jnd ldr 5th, 1 1/2l 2nd bef 2out where mstk, ra lied & ld nrwly last, ko best flat RPR 77
220 Paddyskatie (IRE) 6 11-6 L Burke Ott(5) ...........1 2 br m by Malinas (GER) - Old Town Queen (IRE) (Bob’s Return(IRE)) d til jnd 5th, 1 1/2l adv bef 2out where qckr jmp, redcd adv bef last & hdd nrwly last, no ex early flat RPR 71
254 Southern Point (IRE) 7 12-2 FAV M J Kenneally .......11 2 3 b g by Soldier Of Fortune (IRE) - Olives Hall (IRE) (Saddlers’ Hall(IRE)) mid-div til clsr in 4th when left 3rd at 7th, 2l 3rd aftr 5out & mstk 4out, cl 3rd but no ex aftr 2out, ko RPR 74 591 Treaty Rebel 7 11-11 T P Aherne(5) twrds rr of mid-div, 6th from 3rd, went 4th aftr 5out, 4l 4th bef 4out wknd in 4th bef
one Two riders made the all-important breakthrough last weekend. Luke Kelleher rode Loyal Praetorian to win for his uncle Gerry Kelleher at Bandon, and James Costello partnered the Tony Martintrained Lyreen Og at Borris House. Everytime yousee anew name on thelistit’saboost for thesport. In some casesitwill be thestartofagreat career.Whatever happens later, it’s an occasion that will live in the memory. It’s a big achievement, whether the rider concerned is a youngster with a family tradition of involvement with horses, or someone who has been bitten by the bug and developed an ambition to ride in a race
Whether you’ve ridden one winner, or count them in the hundreds, you’re part of the community. If we can take any comfort from an event as awful as Michael O’Sullivan’s death, it’s that we belong to a community that comes together to be supportive. Alan O’Sullivan’sreturn to the saddle wasabig momentfor him and his family, butweall shareinthe joy his father spokeabout at Michael’s funeral. Theracingworld unitedin sympathyfor the lossofour colleague. It will be an emotional occasion on Tuesdaywhen the Cheltenham Festivalopens with the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’Hurdle.
KIELY’S PLACE, bred by Mrs Deborah Hobson, won the 5YO Geldings Maiden at Bandon for Eugene O’Sullivan
FORTHFACTOR, bred by Joe O’Donoghue, won a 4YO bumper by 4¼ lengths first time out at Hereford for Tom Weston
Down Royal 4YO bumper winner MARLACOO, bred by Mrs Vera Deegan, won a maiden hurdle at Ayr for TomLacey
CHURCHFIELD SUNSET
won a Listed Mares Bumper at Navan for Emmet Mullins
TURN AND FINISH won a Maiden Hurdle on his first start for Harry Derham and is being aimed for the Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle
THE GREAT NUDIE won a Novice Hurdle at Punchestown by 7 lengths for Colin Bowe and owner Leo McArdle and was runner-up to William Munny in a Listed hurdle