Jockey Darragh Allen gets an ideal boost ahead of his mount aboard Padraig Butler’s De Capo Glory in Wednesday’s Coral Cup Hurdle at Cheltenham by partnering a two-timer

THERE was some cracking fare at Sunday’s Lismore point-to-point fixture, which took place under the auspices of the West Waterford Foxhounds at Castlelands.

Darragh Allen experienced an ideal boost ahead of his mount aboard Padraig Butler’s De Capo Glory in Wednesday’s Coral Cup Hurdle at Cheltenham by partnering a two-timer.

Allen initiated his brace by landing the open lightweight aboard his elder brother Sean Allen’s Lonesome Boatman (evens – 4/5), much to the dismay of the 11 bookmakers present. 

The eight-year-old Lonesome Boatman, who was posting a third success of the campaign, led from two out and he swept clear on the flat to contain Battle Of Benburb by a comprehensive three lengths in the colours of Patrick O’Leary from Rathcormac.

Handler Allen reported of Lonesome Boatman, who finished second in a maiden hurdle at the 2021 Galway festival when under the care of Martin Brassil.

“It all depends on the ground, but if it stays safe, he will probably now go for the maiden hunters chase at Cork on Easter Monday.“ 

Darragh Allen meanwhile returned to a rapturous reception on bringing up his two-timer aboard his Ballard, Araglen-based near neighbour Anthony McHugh’s Block Rockin Beats (5/1), so called after Dec Pierce’s radio show on Today FM, in the five-year-old and upwards unplaced maiden.

The five-year-old Block Rockin Beats, having run more than respectably by coming sixth on his previous start at Ballyvodock last month, eroded the advantage of leader Milo Miller on the run to the final fence and he took command over 50 yards out to score by a widening six lengths.

Block Rocking Beats is the very first racehorse that McHugh, who works full-time as a an electrician, has had in training. 

"We bought this horse at the Land Rover sale in Goffs two years ago and we called him Blood Rockin Beats after we met Dec Pierce at the Mitchelstown music festival a few years ago. 

"He ran well in Ballyvodock the last day and we knew that we had a good shout coming here today. 

"I would like to say a big thank you to my neighbours Stevie O’Donoghue, Des Kenneally and Sean Allen as I work this fellow with their horses quite regularly.“ 

Cappagh-based handler Paul Kiely sent out his third winner of the season as Walk Out (evens – 9/10), who was placed on two occasions over hurdles when under the care of John and Tommy Kiely, made her initial start for him a winning one by returning to the coveted number one slot on her hunt racing debut in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden. 

Walk Out led from the fifth of the 15 obstacles and she was holding a slight advantage over Madame Le’Strange when the latter fell at the final fence. 

Walk Out then came home by 37 lengths from Curraheen Queen in the hands of James Murphy.

Handler Kiely remarked of Walk Out: “I have this mare three months and fair play to her owner Conor Lannen for sending her to me. 

"Her track experience really stood to her and I wouldn’t mind now having a go at the Gain Mares’ Final in Ballynoe next month.“ 

Owner/trainer Johnny Collins of Brown Island Stables in Carrigtwohill, himself a former successful amateur rider, sent out his first winner for quite some time as Kosac D’Oudairies (9/2) made a victorious career debut in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden. 

There was little to separate the Eoin O’Brien-ridden Kosac D’Oudairies, who came from the rear of the field, and Lon Chaney when the latter exited at the last. 

Kosac D’oudairies was then left clear to beat Home Made Hero by 11 lengths.

“I bought this fellow privately in France as a foal and he’ll now go to the sales,“ said Collins, who presently has some four horses in training.

Britway amateur Shane Cotter (17), who partnered a winner aboard Au Fleuron at Kirkistown the previous afternoon, recorded a fifth success of the campaign aboard Denis Murphy’s newcomer Future Prospect (5/1) in the four-year-old mares’ maiden. Future Prospect made her way through to lead on the inner before the last to see off Rock Sensation by four lengths.

Meanwhile, the Sean Doyle-trained Big Interest (3/1) stepped forwards from his fourth-placed debut effort at Oldtown just over three weeks earlier by picking up the running for Jamie Scallan after the fourth-last in the truly-run five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden to dismiss the only other finisher Cobblers Rock by a distance.

Next Sunday, the Kilworth and Araglen Harriers race at Knockanohill on the outskirts of Kilworth village (1.30pm start).