Smaller fields at Tyrella

Smaller fields at Tyrella

8 March 2023

DUE to the firm ground, small fields were the order of the day on Saturday when the East Down Foxhounds held their second meeting of the year at the Corbett family estate at Tyrella.

Two men that didn’t mind were 22 year-old Co Laois jockey Jordan Radcliffe, as he recorded his first ever success and Matthew Kelly from the Old Course, near Ballynoe, who saddled his first ever winner as a trainer.

Only two of the seven entries took part in the Robert McCoubrey Memorial two winner race.

In this race Jordan Radcliffe set out to make all on Boro Melody, in the colours of the Cafre, Enniskillen Racing Club and the partnership had the race in the bag a long way from home as the Anthony Fox ridden Grain De Folie bled.

This horse, that is set to be sold, just completed the course in his own time to pick up the second place money.

The winner was a second for trainer Corrie Auchterlonie, her first coming at Largy last season.

The INHSC Maiden race for six year-old and upwards was confined to novice riders and saw six of the nine entries take part.

Owner/trainer Matthew Kelly had his charge Soivegotachance, that was bred by Co Wicklow trainer Philip Rothwell, entered in two races at the meeting but chose to run his charge that he had for a time with Darragh Burke in England and was placed under rules in this race.

He was fortunate to have the services of the inform Alex Harvey to ride his charge.

Always travelling well, the partnership, despite a very untidy jump at the final fence, won by no less than 33 lengths from Le Mieux, owned and ridden by one of the tallest riders around, Loughinisland’s Aidan Casement with Sizing Joshua and Jordan Radcliffe the only other finisher.

This was Harvey’s 13th career victory.

Two horses were declared for the Tom McDowell of Seaforde winners adjacent hunt race but when Sean McParlan withdrew his recent Kirkistown winner Shantou Show, Dento Des O’Beanx received a walk over, a big bonus for owner Liam Gibney and rider Deckie Lavery.

This used to be a popular race and it is worth recalling that back in 1983 Deckie’s father, Gerry, rode Midnight Auburn to success, his one and only success as a rider.

Hopefully, as next year is the East Down’s 60th Anniversary at the venue, it will have better support.

Seven took part in the Bluegrass Dengie five/six year-old Geldings Maiden race and here we had the best finish of the day with five horses in contention racing into the final fence.

At the post Racavan, who pulled up at the venue back in January, prevailed by a length over Ishold Du Vivien, the outsider of two runners from the Colin Bowe stable, this one the mount of Liam Gilligan.

A close third here was the Johnnie Barry ridden Red Hugh.

The winner was a second in a week for the trio of Broughshane owner Philip McBurney, his trainer Gerry Quinn and jockey Noel McParlan, his fifth local success of the season.

However, sadly there was a sting in the tail for him as under the new whip rules he was suspended for three days; he was not a happy man.

Co Wexford trainer Sean Doyle recorded his 121st winner of the season in the Tattersalls five/six year-old mares maiden race when Liam Gilligan 

finished best of all on Bobbisilver, to better Barron’s Land and Barry O’Neil that had held the advantage over the final fence. 

Third here for the third race in a row was the Rodney Arthur owned and trained Bayonetta.

Best wishes goes to Rodney’s wife Diane, who was injured in a recent schooling accident.

First race of the day was the Dennison Commercials Ltd four year-old maiden race and in a driving finish, the Jack Hendrick ridden Vision De Maine, trained in Wexford by Cormac Doyle, got the better of Invicta Du Berlats, ridden by champion jockey Barry O’Neil.

Back in third here was Warren Ewing’s Liggets Hill, ridden by Alex Harvey as Dara McGill rode his brother’s ill-fated Watty Year.

Interesting, both Oran and Dara McGill have both ridden a total of 17 career winners.

Oran has been riding longer and has ridden more winners than Dara under rules.

Acting stewards: David Aiken, Frank Fitsmons, Max and Margaret Irvine and James Armstrong.

Best turned out in all races was courtesy of Glencairn stables.

Saturday next it’s the North Down meeting at Kirkistown. First race at 1.30 pm.