Double for John Barry at Doneraile point-to-point
Thursday March 11 2010
DOUBLES for 20-year old amateur John Barry from Curraheen Conna, and Richard Harding from Castletownroche Mallow, were the highlights of a hugely successful Doneraile Harriers point-to-point at Dromore, Dromahane on Sunday last.
The talented Barry teamed up with Killavullen Mallow trainer T J Nagle on American Touch, to land the first division of the Pegus qualifier, in a driving finish he prevailed by an neck, and then had to survive a lengthy stewards inquiry. The full brother to American Job will contest the Pegus final at Cork racecourse Mallow on Easter Monday.
Barry went on to complete his first ever double in the Cork Waterford circuit on the hughly impressive 15 length winner Takemetotheisland, trained at Newmarket Mallow by Denis G Carthy, who purchased the 5-year old, twelve months ago, and who is grateful to Mick Winters Kanturk for the use of his gallops.
Richard Harding, who has been booked to ride the fancied Ballybriggs in The Kim Muir and Fabulu for Donald Mc Cain at Cheltenham next week, teamed up with Liam Burke, to win the 5-year old Pegus qualifier with the hughly impressive State Benefit, whish romped home by 15 lengths for Park House doneraile owner Edmond Cogan. The half brother to Abbot, was purchased as a yearling at the Nov sales in Tattersalls.
Harding completed a splendid double on Teaforthree which reaped the rewards of consistency in a division of the confined, staying on in great style to win by a length for popular Killavullen Mallow trainer Tom Barry, who paid a massive compliment to his outstanding daughter Niamh, who schooled both runners at 7am that morning.
Current southern champion Michael O'Connor from Liscarroll, who had a few near misses during the afternoon, finally hit the target on the Tom Costelloe trainer hot favourite Glens Boy, which was hugely impressive in winning the winners of one by 15 lengths, having ascerted and gone clear three out.
Dromtariffe amateur Damian Murphy scored his 10th win of the season, on the Jimmy Mangan trained Katieanna, which appeared full of running throughout, but had to fine another gear, under a powerful drive, to land the concluding 6-year old mares maiden by a neck for Tuam, Co Galway owner Aidan Larkin.
Fermoy rider Ciaran Fennessy combined with Fermoy trainer Michael Trixie Barry, to land a major gamble, with Valley View which was a hughly impressive winner, of a most competitive 4-year old maiden at Lemonfield point-to-point races in Limerick last Sunday.
Fennessy made the dash back to Dromahane to ride in a number of races there, and spoke to The Corkman explaining: "I made all the running on him, he is as good a horse as I have ever ridden, he is a brilliant jumper, and he went clear at the second last, to win by 5/6 lengths, it was a brilliant training performance by Trixie to have him primed and spot on for the day."
This was Ciaran's 11th win of the season, the 37th of his fledging career, in addition to three track successes. Charleville jockey James Carroll was also successful at the fixture for trainer Philip Fenton.
