Michael Kenneally impresses again at Muskerry Foxhounds Point meeting

The Muskerry Foxhounds point-to-point fixture took place at a sun-drenched Ballindenisk on Sunday and Dungourney native Michael Kenneally continued his excellent season by landing a gripping renewal of the winners of one contest aboard owner/trainer Johnny Collins’ Kent De Thaix.

Winner of a Curraghmore five-year-old geldings’ maiden on his previous start on Easter Sunday, Kent De Thaix (4/5 – 4/6) was waited with at the rear of the three-runner field as Beacon Storm led from Keeps On Rolling. Having done well to survive a fifth-last fence blunder, Kent De Thaix edged ever closer two out and he challenged between horses on the run to the final of the 12 fences. 

The winning French-bred touched down in front here and he then asserted on the flat to account for the gallant mare Beacon Storm by one and a half lengths with a two-length break back to Just Keeps Rolling in third spot.

With Carrigtwohill-based operator Collins en route to the Arqana breeze-up sale in France, stable representative Liam O’Keeffe remarked of Kent De Thaix, whom connections purchased in France as a foal: "He’s a horse that wasn’t quite right earlier on in the season and he could have done with a stronger gallop here today. We will head on to the Doncaster sales with him later this month and he should turn out to be a nice staying chaser."

Beacon Storm’s handler Alex Ott earlier experienced better fortune with Roseeily (5/2) in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden. The hooded seven-year-old Roseeily, who was having a fourth career start, was bounced out in front by her trainer’s son Andy Burke Ott and she stormed clear of runner-up Menina Diamante from after the second-last to oblige by a widening 20 lengths.

Boherbue-based owner/trainer Ott commented of Roseeily, in whom breeder Phil Gould from Ballymacoda still holds an interest: "She’s a mare that was only broken as a six-year-old and Tom Lombard pre-trained her. She’s a nice staying mare and we will probably go for a winners race with her now." 

Sam Curling’s newcomer Trinity Street (5/2) landed the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden in the hands of her owner Mrs Trish Hyde’s grandson Josh Williamson. 

The Mahler-sired Trinity Street, a €38,000 graduate of the 2023 Goffs Arkle sale, made progress from well off the pace into third spot after three out and she led before the second-last to see off Midnight Musical by five lengths.

The owner’s husband Timmy Hyde of Camas Park Stud outside Cashel disclosed of Trinity Street: "Plans are fluid, but she will more than likely now go to a sale."

The Cormac Doyle-trained newcomer Indulto Rouge (5/2) destroyed the opposition in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden, much to the dismay of the 13 bookmakers present.

Indulto Rouge always travelled well with Jack Hendrick and he led from three out. It was all plain sailing from the second-last as Indulto Rouge, a French-bred son of Beaumec De Houelle, swept clear to beat Skeeter Rock by an unchallenged 18 lengths.

Cormac Doyle’s elder brother Sean Doyle was on the mark with debutant Adonedeal (5/1) in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. The Califet-sired Adonedeal made virtually all the running under Jamie Scallan and he was well in command from the second-last, 17 lengths separating him from fellow first-timer Protect The Future.

Gorey-based handler Marc Costello sent out Some Spanner (5/1), representing his partner Peggy Murphy, to make a career-winning debut in the closing six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden. The towering seven-year-old Some Spanner picked up the running with James Walsh from before the second last to dismiss favourite High Stool Profit by six lengths.

The Muskerry Foxhounds are once again in action on Bank Holiday Monday, as they host their annual Dawstown fixture at Birch Hill, outside Grenagh with proceedings commencing at 1pm.