Dancingondaceiling makes it a day to remember for Alex Ott with a big win at the Avondhu Point to Point

IT may well happen that American singer Lionel Richie will hear all about Sunday’s Avondhu Foxhounds point-to-point fixture at Knockanard! 

This is so as the Alex Ott-trained Dancingondaceiling, so called after Richie’s 1986 song Dancing On The Ceiling, returned to a rapturous reception on justifying favouritism in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The Workforce-sired Dancingondaceiling (2/1), having finished fourth behind Clondaw General in a vintage Cragmore maiden on his debut on January 28th, was bounced out smartly in front by his handler’s 20-year-old son Andy Burke Ott and he made all the running. 

Having gone clear on the stiff ascent from the penultimate of the 14 obstacles, Dancingondaceiling duly returned with 12 and a half lengths to spare over Kilvinoge. 

Meanwhile, Hakensack returned a further two and a half lengths adrift in third spot.

The seven-member Singing In The Rain Gang Syndicate, who are regulars in Ronnies Bar and Quinlans’ Bar in the north Cork village of Meelin, rushed back to the winners enclosure to greet Dancingondaceiling. 

When one of their number broke into song ‘Oh What a feeling, dancing on the ceiling’, the coveted number one slot erupted into a crescendo of applause.

“I bounced Dancingondaceiling out to make all and there wasn’t another horse near him at the last,“ said rider Burke Ott, who has now ridden 11 points winner to add to his two track success. 

“I think that he is a fair horse.“ 

The 13 bookmakers present endured a frustrating end to the afternoon as Terence O’Brien’s odds-on shot Con’s Roc (2/5) came home as he pleased in the five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts maiden. 

The seven-year-old Con’s Roc, who finished second to subsequent British track winner The Doyen Chief on his only previous start at Ballindenisk in December 2022, led or disputed the running virtually throughout and he bounded clear from two out for Darragh Allen to beat Axmediffrent by 15 and a half lengths.

“He’s a horse with a bit of class about him and he just needed a bit of time off after his Ballindenisk run,“ disclosed in-form handler O’Brien of Con’s Roc, representing the 10-member Near Or Never Syndicate. 

“He’s only really back in proper training since Christmas and he could now run in a hunters chase.“ 

The vast majority of interest was focused on the three and a half mile banks race and the Sam Curling-trained De Nordener (5/2), formerly owned by JP McManus, posted his third success of the season under regular partner Toni Quail. 

In a race that saw some 24 obstacles jumped, De Nordener led from two out and he was holding in the region of a one-length advantage over Knockiel Synge when Peter Flood’s charge cruelly unseated at the last. 

De Nordener then crossed the line with three and a half lengths to spare over stable-companion Stormy Story with the pair being the only finishers from the eight runners that set out.

“That’s my first win over the banks and De Nordener was great, he took me around really,“ said Ms Quail, who originally hails from Co Down. 

“He will ultimately go for the Ladies Cup at the Punchestown festival.“ 

Castlelyons rider Shane Baragry kept his supporters happy by landing the mares’ winners of two aboard the Niall Kelleher-trained Sarah Jane (12/1). 

Having pulled up on her previous two starts, Sarah Jane made the best of her way home from two out to dismiss Ray Hurley’s Lucky Mahler by one and a half lengths in the colours of Gerard Nihill.

“She’s a tough mare that just wasn’t right when she pulled up in Carrigarostig a month ago,“ reported Inchigeelagh native Kelleher of Sarah Jane. “She’ll now go for another mares’ winners race.“ 

The whole complexion of the six-year-old and upwards novice riders maiden changed at the final fence as Bigbraveboy fell when holding a six-lengths advantage under Ross Sugrue. 

Tom Dreaper’s mare Worth The Walk (7/2), who was admittedly closing at the time having finished in the frame on her previous two starts, was then left clear with Tyrone native Cormac Abernethy to beat the only other finisher Tom Jonny by 92 lengths. 

It’s likely that the seven-year-old Worth The Walk, whose dam is an own-sister to Nicky Henderson’s former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth, will now run in a hunters chase.

Handler/rider Derek O’Connor won his third four-year-old maiden of the season for owner JP McManus by steering newcomer Goraibhmaithagat (5/4 – evens) to a facile success in the opening two and a half mile contest. 

Goraibhmaithagat, a son of Flemensfirth that was bred by McManus’ wife Noreen, jumped superbly and he picked up the running before the last en-route to quickening clear on the flat to contain long-time leader Starzand by a length.

“I am blessed to be dealing with the quality of the stock that I have for JP, “said O’Connor.“ 

I thought that this horse had more stamina than speed coming here, but he certainly showed nice speed there today. “ 

Next Sunday, all roads will lead to Rockmills Stud for the annual Kildorrery meeting (1pm start).