Kilworth and Araglen Harriers point-to-point meeting attracts a huge crowd

There was a fabulous atmosphere at Sunday’s well attended Kilworth and Araglen Harriers point-to-point meeting at Knockanohill, on the outskirts of Kilworth village, and the mare Lakewood Rose destroyed the opposition under her owner/trainer Niamh Hennessy in the closing five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts maiden.

The seven-year-old Lakewood Rose (6/1) vindicated the promise of her third-placed effort at Knockanard last month by coming through from mid-division to pick up the running approaching the final fence under Miss Hennessy, a Co Kilkenny native that works at Brendan Holland’s Grove Stud outside Fermoy.

She duly bounded clear to beat favourite Don’t Stop D Party by a widening seven lengths. 

Could Be You meanwhile returned a further three parts of a length adrift in third spot.

Miss Hennessy, who previously won three points on Fr Humphrey, reported of Lake Rose.

“I have her since she was a three-year-old. She just got a few little niggles along the way and she only ran for the first time at Ballingarry last May. 

"She has been running well this year and it’s great that she showed what she was capable of here today.“ 

Skibbereen native Frankie Murphy turned 19 yesterday and the teenager celebrated his birthday in the best possible fashion by partnering a second winner of the campaign aboard owner/trainer Harley Dunne’s seasonal debutant Captain Cool (12/1) in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. The Jukebox Jury-sired Captain Cool, who finished sixth on his career debut at Ballyknock last season, benefited from pacesetting tactics in this truly-run contest as he made every post a winning one to dismiss favourite Park Talk by a widening three lengths.

Winning rider Murphy, who was partnering a fifth winner in total, works with the aforementioned Harley Dunne at his Clonroche base in Wexford.

Ray Hurley’s Cold Old Fire (6/4) came home alone in an eventful winners of three race. 

Some four runners faced the starter here and the drama started when Trooper Carton unseated at the third-fence and the loose horses then in essence carried out Iorens and Keeptheoldmanout at the fifth. 

Cold Old Fire, owned by the Tutti Fruitti Syndicate that includes breeder Tom Keogh, then cantered around in splendid isolation to oblige in the hands of Darragh Allen.

The John Staunton-owned/trained Kilworth (evens) proved an appropriately-named winner of the five-year-old and upwards maiden, much to the chagrin of the 14 bookmakers present. 

Kilworth, having finished second on her only previous start behind ex track performer The Great Unknown at Bellharbour last month, was always well positioned under Eoin Mahon and she led from after the second-last. 

At the post, she had some two and a half lengths to spare over the Evan Daly-ridden newcomer Julie Liath.

“She’s a cracking mare that just ran into a very good sort in The Great Unknown at Bellharbour,“ reported Galwegian Staunton. 

“Charlie Moore, who comes from here in Kilworth, owns her with me and she will probably be sold now.“ 

It was a red-letter afternoon for Jake Leddin from Hospital in Co Limerick as the 22-year-old recorded an initial career success aboard the Ambrose O’Mullane-trained Just Keeps Rolling (4/1) in the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden. 

The six-year-old Just Keeps Rolling vindicated the promise of his second-placed effort at Comea last month by coming through to pick up the running before the last to en-route to accounting for I See Fog by three parts of a length in what was the closest finish of the afternoon. 

Leddin meanwhile presently rides out for both Charles Byrnes and O’Mullane, who is extremely well-known in breeze up circles thanks to his Ardglas Stables outside Emly in Co Tipperary.

Lancelot Du Large (evens) made a winning debut for handler Cormac Doyle in the opening four-year-old maiden by picking up the running at the third-last for Jamie Scallan to see off Garrett Aherne’s charge Riverstown Boy by two and a half lengths.

The point-to-point action moves to Ballynoe next Sunday where the Gain Mares’ Final will once again occupy centre stage with proceedings scheduled to get under way at 1.30pm.