April 16, 2025
UPER
SUPER NOVA
Edmund Power’s Nova Nakobursts on to the scene with ascintillating victory at DromahaneReports, pages 2-3
p
DEREK O’CONNO O
‘It’s great that we can find room for someone of Michael Kenneally’s maturity to become part of our community as alate starter’ Page 4
IN FOCUS
KEVIN HEALY
‘Milan Forth gave me an unbelievable spin at Aintree and it was great to be there’ The young rider talks about his memorable year and future goals Page 5
I think SANTIAGO is going to be the next big thing. He was a very, very good racehorse and Authorized is a fantastic influence. Harold Kirk
LAOIS AT STRADBALLY SUNDAY
Curling provides the power ahead of Electric Picnic
STRADBALLY HALL will come alive for Ireland’s biggest music festival, Electric Picnic, in August, but it was Sam Curling who delivered a headline performance as the Tipperary handler saddled a double as racing took centre stage at the Laois venue.
Cosmic Blizzard was first to strike for his Skehanagh stables when he made all the running in the McLoughlin’s SuperValu winners-of-three Fourth at Downpatrick a fortnight earlier, the Bellharbour maiden winner was closely pursued by odds-on favourite Onyerbike, but as valiantly as that recent Ballycrystal winner tried, Toni Quail’s mount was not for stopping and pulled three lengths clear by the line
“That was a nice performance; he loves that ground,” Curling said. “I’ll let Toni ride him for the rest of the season as she’s now only one behind in the ladies’ title race, and we’ll
Star performance
Endless Talking quickened clear off the home bend and won as he pleased
give her a good rattle at that for the next few weeks.”
Wheresmemoneygone then doubled up for connections in the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel older geldings’ maiden to open his acc ou nt at the ninth attempt
The six-year-old had run twice in point-to-points for Curling at the back end of last season, before joining Worcestershire trainer Max Young, for whom he failed to make much of an impressi on in four outings over hurdles
Ba ck wi th Cu rl in g, the Ch am ps El ys ee s ge ldin g followed up two consecutive placed efforts by beating Robin Elite by six lengths under David Doyle. That pair had big hopes of
adding to their tally in the concluding Design Options and Coolr ain Concr ete adjacent maiden as Stowaway Lass, one of the joint favourites, still held a share of the lead when falling two out. That left Kilmore Coral to supply Cathal Connolly and Conor Ryan with first successes.
“I’m thrilled as this is my first attempt at training and only my second runner after this mare ran at Durrow a couple of weeks ago,” Ryan said.
“I’m from the small village of Ballagh between Holycross and Dundrum in Tipperar y. I bought her as a three-year-old and I left her alone as she was a bit handy in stature. We’ll have a chat and see what happens with regards to where we go next but we’ll enjoy today.”
Wexford raiders started the day strongly, winning the opening three races, beginning with Endless Talking in the Tattersalls Cheltenham April Sale four-year-old maiden.
KILLEADY AT DROMAHANE SUNDAY
Successful in the corresponding race last year with Golan Loop, Donnchadh Doyle enjoyed back-to-back victories in the race when the Affinisea gelding, a €20,000 Derby Sale purchase, beat C’Mon So by 12 lengths under Alan Harney.
“Donnchadh liked him a lot and was confident he would win coming here today,” said Ge ar oid Do yl e, you ng er brother of the winning handler
“He’s a grand type who does everything well at home and he’ll go to the sales now.
“We’ve had great luck with Affinisea’s stock. His horses suit our job well as they jump and travel and they’re easy to do.”
Pierce Power saddled his first winner of the campaign when Go To The Moon stepped forward from his debut to claim the Goffs Punchestown Sale five-year-old geldings’
ma iden under Da rr ag h Higgins. The Vadamos gelding was three lengths too good for the more experienced Mulroy Bay. The Meadow Meats mares’ maiden was a closer affair with the judge unable to separate Vinny Devereux’s Dothejive, and the Alex Ott-traine d Beacon Storm, resulting in a dead heat between riders James Cousins and Luke Burke Ott.
Nova Nako sparks Kenneally’s spree
MICHAEL KENNEALLY lit up the track with the first treble of his career He opened with an enterprising victory on the Edmund Power-owned-andtrained newcomer Nova Nako, who romped home in the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale fo ur-y ear-ol d ge ldi ng s’ maiden. He made virtually all the running and had the field under pressure a long way from home. The favourite, Coconut Man, offered the only threat from the third-last, but he blundered away any chance
Th e wi nnin g so n of Tirwanako was not foot-perfect two out, but he was already in command when his rival erred again at the last.
Nova Nako, a half-brother to two track winners who is out of a half-sister to Grade 2 hurdles winner I’msingingtheblues, then powered clear to beat Coconut Man by seven and a half lengths
“He did what we thought he would do on his work at home,”
Star performance
Nova Nako clocked a time 18 seconds quicker than the day’s average as he set a pace which none of his nine rivals could live with
said Dungarvan-based Power.
“Michael gave him a very good ride from the front. My son Kieran couldn’t ride him as he wouldn’t have been able to use his 5lb claim.”
Nova Nako, a €10,000 acquisition at last year’s Goffs Arkle sale, will probably now be sold. Kenneally then teamed up with Eugene O’Sullivan to win the Dairygold and Pegus Horse Feeds novice riders’ open on points debutant Bugs Moran, whose only previous success came in a three-mile novice handicap hurdle at the 2022 Fairyhouse Easter festival when trained by Noel Meade Bugs Moran, returning from a near 18-month absence and having a first start for the Lombardstown handler, led
from the third fence and gave a superb display of fencing in front.
He was already travelling best when throwing a fabulous leap two out and swept clear before the last to beat the recent Castlelands winner King Alex by seven lengths Born By Th e Se a pr od uce d his customary gallant effort to finish third, a further three and
a half lengths back.
With O’Sullivan at Stradba ll y, hi s ne ph ew Al a n O’Sullivan said of the Tomas Singleton-owned eight-yearold: “He’s a horse who has always had class. He’s also had a few problems but hopefully he’ll go on to have a good season now. The plan will be to go for a hunter chase at Cork on Easter Monday.”
The 29-year-old Cork rider, who had his first winner in March last year, brought up his treble on newcomer Howsmenoftomorro in the Crossbarry Inn and INHSC maiden for owner-trainer-breeder James Condon.
The race was restricted to handlers who had trained no more than ten winners and it attracted only two runners.
The five-year-old gelding Howsmenoftomorro led from the start and held a half-length advantage over Woodie Peck Her when his only rival fell two out. Howsmenoftomorro will now contest a winners’ race
Jonathan Fogarty continued his te rr ific se as on when new comer Storm Queen became his 13th winner after Finian Maguire made all the running in the Goffs Punchestown Sale four-year-old mares’ maiden.
The Phoenix Of Spain-sired winner survived a final-fence error to beat Hello Johnjoe by five and a half lengths The
Gaynestown Stud partnershipowned chestnut is now likely to be sold.
Owner-trainer Tom Keating, having won with Ballycommon Bo y at Dr om ah ane the previous Sunday, was on the mark with Burncourt Boy in the Killeady Hunt Members and Supporters five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The Shirocco-sired winner, who fell when a close second two out on his only start last season at Ballysteen, hit the front 100yds out under Jamie Scallan to beat King’s Son by a length and a half Thurle s- bas ed ha ndl e r David Murphy saddled Ballylicky Bay to win the Killeady Hunt Landowners five-yearold-a nd-upwa rd s ma re s’ maiden.
Last month’s Lisronagh debut fourth, owned by the trainer’s father Jeff Murphy, was sent to the front by Alan O’Sullivan two out and held off the closing One Day In May by a short head.
Wheresmemoneygone and David Doyle (check silks) complete a double for handler Sam Curling
Storm Queen makes an impressive debut
LOUTH AT TATTERSALLS SUNDAY
Votre Sante provides a double tonic for Hamilton and Bailie
THERE may have been only two runners in the Country Fresh five-year-old-andupwards mares’ maiden but it is a race that will live long in the memories of rider William Hamilton and handler Paul Bailie as the victory of Votre Sante gave the pair their first winners.
The daughter of Lauro, who began her career with Denis Murphy but is now under the care of the Crossgar handler, made amends for an early departure on her stable debut at Portrush by beating odds-on favourite Sinceyouvebeengone by two and a half lengths under her 22-year-old Antrim jockey.
“I didn’t think she would win today,” said the 23-year-old winning handler who has only two horses in training.
“I just told the jockey to settle her in and she has jumped and travelled fantastically. The cheekpieces worked I can’t believe it.”
Duncormick rider Tony Doyle doubled his career tally when Tu rnup de vo lum e stepped up from his recent third at Monksgrange to claim the Begleys older geldings’ maiden for novice riders
With his rider full of confidence entering the home straight, the seven-year-old had to survive a late scare when the Colin Bowe-trained High Stool Profit closed to within half a length, having appeared to have been brushed aside from the second-last Richard O’Keeffe’s bay could now contest a banks race at Punchestown
Star performance
Magic Gloves had the form in the book and proved a class above her rivals
Reigning champion handler Bowe had earlier sent out a double initiated by Red Rubio in the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Bought for €16,000 at the sponsor’s November sale as a foal in 2021, the chestnut was guided by Barry O’Neill to a four-length defeat of the Denis Hogan-trained stablemates, Crystello and Gangster Walk, to supply his sire Sumbal with a first success.
“He is the first Sumbal we’ve had and we liked him coming here,” Bowe said. “He is a lovely horse. Barry said he was very professional and loved the ground.”
The O’Neill-Bowe combination were back in the winner’s enclosure 30 minutes later after Mandinka landed the Windsor Bar and Restaurant, McGeogh’s Bar and Restaurant five-yearold geldings’ maiden.
Bred by IHRB point-to-point ste wa rd s’ sec re tar y Gil l Browne, the brother of Grade 2-winning Andy Dufresne wrestled the lead back from Makinbecon before the final fence and quickly put five lengths between himself and his rival.
“I’m delighted. I bred him and we brought him along slowly because he’s a big horse,” Browne said.
“I have to give plenty of
credit to Pa O’Sullivan He did all the pre-training last year with the horse. His dam is due to foal soon. She was covered by Affinisea, and his sister just had a colt foal by Order Of St George.”
O’ Ne ill com plete d a hat-trick, taking his seasonal tally to 41 and a career total to 850, when reunited with his old record-chasing ally Winged Leader in the DG McArdle International open.
David Christie’s 11-year-old raced from the front and was in a league of his own from three out as he beat Francois by 12 lengths, much to the delight of owners John Hegarty and Jennifer O’Kane, who were on hand to watch his 31st points victory, two behind recordholder Still William
“It was nice that his owners could be here to see him,” Christie said. “The early part of the year was spent running down in the deep south and it was too far to travel.
“This horse is such a big thing for them; he’s a horse of a lifetime for us all. I’ll never train a horse like him again.”
Gary Murphy’s memorable spring term shows no sign of slowing as his Magic Gloves went one place better than her Durrow second three weeks earlier, in the Tattersalls Cheltenham April Sale four-yearold mares’ maiden.
Noel McParlan guided the daughter of Jet Away to a sixlength defeat of Royale Navy. She will be offered at the sponsor’s sale after racing at Cheltenham tomorrow.
FRANKEL
Mandinka completes a quick double for Barry O’Neill and Colin Bowe
DerekO’Connor Straight to thePoint
Late-starter Kenneallymakes his experience countwithfirsttreble
LASTweekend’s action featuredseveral good performances in the fouryear-old division. Oneof the best came from the Edmund Power-trainedNovaNako, who made almostall therunningto winatDromahane
He came home nicelyclear of the well-fanciedCoconut Man, representingthe JonathanFogartyFinnyMaguirecombination, who were successful in the mares’ maiden half an hour earlier with Storm Queen.
Nova Nako’s winwas the opening legofa firsttreble for rider Michael Kenneally. He landedthe open on Bugs Moranfor Eugene O’Sullivan beforehis James Condon-trained mountHowsmenoftomorro came home alone in the lastrace of the day.
TheDromahane openwas confinedtonovice riders.Raceslike this have become awelcome feature inrecentseasons,offeringincreased opportunities for ourup-and-coming youngjockeys,whosecareer developmentisvital to the futureof the sport.
In this case,the winningrider is only anoviceinname. However, Michaelisanewcomer in the pointto-pointworld, morethan15years after gettinghis firstexperience of ridingracehorsesasakid with trainer James Sheehannearhis home at DungourneyinCounty Cork.
He wasapprenticedtoMichael Bell in Newmarketinhis mid-teens and wasshowing alot of promise beforeagrowthspurtled to problems with his weight. He went to Australia and pickedupmore experience ridingout for acouple of years
When he returnedtoIreland, he did an electrical apprenticeship beforegoingbacktoEngland for a spell at NickyHenderson’syard. Back in Ireland again,hewas in the second half of his twenties when ridinghis firstpoint-to-pointwinner on the JohnnyHurley-trainedCan Daddy Dance at Borris Houselast season. He rode twomorewinners beforethe end of the season and has reacheddouble figureswith Sunday’s treble Since his returntoIreland, he has renewed an early association with Denis Ahern and hasbecome
involved with Josh Halley’s operation. I’ve noticed he’s becomingago-to rider for schooling days in the Cork, Waterford, and Tipperaryareas
Of course, the novice rider programme is designed to cater for youngriders,men and women in their late teens and early twenties However, it’s greatthat the system, and overall structureofpoint-topointracingcan also find room for someone of Michael’smaturity and experience to become partofour community as alatestarter
‘I’venoticed Michael Kenneallyis becoming a go-torider for schooling days in the Cork,Waterford,and Tipperaryareas’
Youngridersneedtoobtain as much race-ridingexperience as possible. Many naturally talented youngsters alsoneed timeto develop their ability to school horses in away that will givethe foundation for along-term futureon the trackoverthe nexthalf-dozenor so years. It’s good to see someone of Michael’s experienceworkinginour sector.
By coincidence,Sunday’sracing alsobroughtafirst ridingsuccess for arelatively late starter.Cathal Connolly, 27, from Athenryin County Galway,made a breakthrough on KilmoreCoral at Stradbally, on the 15th ride of acareer that gotunder way twoseasons ago. The mare wasalsoafirst winner for handler Conor Ryan. Thepairweren’t alone incelebratingafirst winon Sunday. Handler Paul Bailie and rider William Hamilton gotoff the mark when teamingupwith Votre Santetowin amares’maiden at Tattersalls
Everynew addition to the listof winningjockeys or handlers adds something. It doesn’t matter if the jockeyhas along-termambition to be aprofessional, or aleading amateur and point-to-pointrider,or someone who wantstobroaden their experience beforetakingadifferent career path in the industry. For some,it’sjusta personal goal to ride awinner or two. At whatever level, it takes discipline,application and a willingnesstolearn.
After the recentspell of good weather,the ground wasonthe quick side of goodatStradbally on Sunday. Thedry spell haslastedlongenough tomakethings potentiallytricky for the remainder of the season. Hunt committees will need to work hard to provide safe ground.
In my experience,our huntsare supportedbyenthusiasts willingto putinextra hours.Attimes like this, all the jockeys andhandlers appreciate howmuch we depend on volunteers.Fromawelfarepointof view, equine and human, it’s essential.
With the word “firm” in the official ground description, the fields at Stradbally were compact.Still, that
didn’t stopthe Donnchadh DoyletrainedAffinisea geldingEndless Talkingfrommakinga good first impression. He travelledwellfor Alan Harneyand wasincontrol after odds-on favourite Yatorius fell four out. He quickenedwellfromthe last to winby12lengths SamCurling,trainer of Yatorius, hadsomecompensationwitha double.Hesuppliedawinner for Toni Quail, who is nowonly one behind joint-leadersPandora Briselden and Maxine O’Sullivan in the race for the female riders’ championship,and gave the season’s leadingunder-21 rider David Doyle an 11th successofthe season, openinga four-winner gapover Bertie Finn and Kevin Healy. Tattersalls staged the County Louth fixture on goodground. Gary Murphycontinuedhis brilliantrun of forminfour-year-old maidens when Magic Gloves, runner-up to stablemateCraftedPearl first time outatDurrow, putthat experience to good use in the mares’ race.Colin Bowe took the geldings’race with RedRubio.Onaweekend of firsts, this wasaninitial point winner for the Boardsmill Stud stallion Sumbal.
MagicGlovescontinues Gary Murphy’s fineforminthe four-year-old division with victoryatthe Tattersalls fixture
Kevin Healy
(below) is going for the under-21 title and is keen to turn professional
MY GRANDAD
Pat Whyte taught me how to ride when I was around three years old. He brought me hunting on ponies and we would be away every weekend eventing, crosscountry or showjumping.
My mum, Evelyn, always had a big interest in horses and she’s a great support. I have a younger brother, Tommy, who loves riding too.
I was quite successful with a great horse called Kilbunny Kabana I won the IPC junior hunter trial championships and competed in the working hunter category at the Dublin Horse Show, which was brilliant.
I never wanted to go to college and it was always the plan to work with horses
Igot into racing through my grandad. He ownedafew racehorses andwould takeme racing; that’swhere Icaughtthe bug. Idid alittle pony racing and we trainedour own.
WEEKEND ENTRIES
‘Aintree was an amazing experience. It was great to be there at such a young age’
We used to travel over to Scotland to race and I rode 13 winners on the pony racing circuit It was good experience I got my licence when I turned 16 and my first winner came in a qualified riders’ handicap on the allweather at Dundalk in March last year, on my third ride It was a controversial race as 12 of the 14 riders received a suspension. I won on Wrecking Ball Paul for Paul Mulligan. He’s a tricky horse to ride and because he was hard to settle I just let him jump off and bowl away in front and we
were never caught He won easily by a wide margin.
My first point-to-point ride was at Durrow that month on Hopit McGrath for Simon Cavanagh.
I had a good few rides before getting my first points winner at Umma House in October last year It was aboard Milan Forth, owned by my grandad and trained by Simon. It was pretty special. Milan Forth has been great for me this year, providing me with three point-to-point wins, two hunter chases and a great ride around Aintree in the Foxhunters’.
ENTRIES have a reference number to the horse’s last run, form figures (latest on right), owner, handler and exclusive rating (same scale as rules RPR).
For penalised horses we suggest deducting half a point per pound (penalties not confirmed until race-day).
Irish point-to-point entries are ordered as follows:
1 Horses whose owner has more than one entry, ordered alphabetically by: (a) owner, (b) horse
2 Horses whose handler has more than one entry, ordered alphabetically by: (a) handler, (b) horse
3 Remaining horses, ordered alphabetically
Abbreviations: B-brought down; b-baulked; C-carried out; d-disqualified; F-fell; P-pulled up; R-ran out; r-refused; S-slipped up; U-unseated rider
Aintreewas an amazing experience. Igot agreat spin on Milan Forthtofinish seventh. He travelledstrongly for the first mile and ahalf and jumped super.Itwas greattobeatAintree at such a young age.
I didn’t know anything about Aintree. Simon and my grandad had it as a plan for a while, but I knew nothing about it until the day Milan Forth won at Clonmel. Simon mentioned the plan to me on the way to the races that day.
Milan Forth is on a break now and he’ll be back in for next season with Aintree as his main aim and I hope he’ll go back with a definite shout Milan Forth was purchased by my grandad from the 2024 Goffs UK summer sale on the advice of Dan Astbury and Simon was instrumental too
He had been in training with Donnchadh Doyle.
When I moved to Simon’s, he hadn’t many horses for me to ride to gain experience on, so my grandad bought him and he has been a star for us
Milan Forth winning his second hunter chase at Down Royal was one of my best days in racing so far. Also Bestaline winning at Daramona House was quite special as Longford is our local hunt. I really enjoyed that day.
I was around 11 when I first went into Ciaran Murphy’s and I spent six years there before joining Simon two years ago. I’ve also ridden out for John McConnell, Paul Flynn, Dermot Kilmartin and Iain Jardine in Scotland.
I’m usually in Simon’s six days a week and go down to Sean Doyle’s one day and I
ride out for Adrian Murray whenever I can.
Two years ago, I’d never have imagined how well things would be going for me, but when I moved to Simon’s everything just fell into place I was in the right yard I can’t emphasise enough just how much Simon has done for me It’s down to him where I am today.
I am joint second with Bertie Finn in the under-21 title race, three behind David Doyle. I’m going to give it my best shot, but if it doesn’t happen this year, there’s always next year I would love to turn professional down the line if the right opportunity arises I believe if you’re good enough and you work hard the right opportunities will follow.
KEVIN HEALY WAS TALKING TO DEBBIE McCRELLIS
THEOTHERMOZZIEwontheScottyBrandHandicapChase-Gr.3 forGavinCromwellandownerJimmyFyffe
“THE OTHER MOZZIE was caught too far back in a race dominated by front runners at Cheltenham and resumed his progress back at 2m, coming clear after two out…the style of this win suggests he can do better again.” RACINGPOST
GOTOTHEMOONwonthe 5YOMaidenby3lengths
“He’s a gorgeous horse, jumps great, plenty of gears; a tailormade track horse.” HandlerPiercePower
Other recent action...
SHE’SDELIGHTEDwon at Portrushfor PaddyTurley,whowon a point-to-point atthe samevenuewith subsequent Grade 1 performer KINGOFKINGSFIELD (also byVADAMOS)
Warren Ewing graduate BOLD ACTIONwon a bumper by4 lengthsfirsttime out at Kemptonfor Chris Gordon
FIRST COOLMORE CROP 3YOS SELLING SOON
Prix du Moulin-Gr.1 winner by MONSUN – just like MAXIOS