Cork Racecourse: Poignant victory for Eugene and Alan O'Sullivan with Dooner Citizen

The Dooner Citizen's victory in Division 2 of the Tesla Handicap Hurdle for trainer Eugene O'Sullivan and his nephew Alan O'Sullivan was undoubtedly the most popular success on Saturday at Cork Racecourse Mallow.

Alan, brother of the late Lombardstown jockey Michael, showcased his obvious talent as he got the seven-year-old son of Dansant home by three-quarters of a length at the sun-drenched North Cork venue. The winner had run well on Easter Monday and the cheekpieces and tongue strap were on here.

Incidentally, Alan O'Sullivan is running in the Cork City half-marathon next month in memory of his late brother Michael. He’ll be alongside his cousin David O’Sullivan to raise funds for Brú Columbanus, a charity in Cork University Hospital that helped the family enormously while Michael was in hospital.

After hosting a top-class card on the flat earlier in the week, national hunt racing returned to Cork Racecourse Mallow. 

With the Tesla Handicap Hurdle divided, punters had eight races to decipher with seven of those over hurdles. Lisgoold jockey Paul Townend only had one ride on this card and he made his brief visit a profitable one as Cameletta Vega in the colours made famous by her mother Quevega ran out an impressive winner of the Mares maiden hurdle at 3/1.

In terms of quality and as a betting medium the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle looked to be the best race on the card. The consensus beforehand suggested, this was a dead match between the hurdling debutants: DippedInthemoonlight and Cameletta Vega. 

Punters got stuck into Paul Byrne's mare who was backed from 11/10 into 4/6. Cameletta Vega was relatively easy to back at 3/1. She made practically all the running and apart from backing off at the fourth she jumped well and was always travelling like a winner. 

In stark contrast the favourite didn't hurdle with any fluency, showing a tendency to jump out left. She lost her position three out and faded tamely into eight. Cameletta Vega won hard held by a snug five and a half lengths.

Racing began with the Paddy Mac Maiden Hurdle. Mick Collins was all the rage in the ring from 7/4 into 5/4 favourite. 

He'd won on the level at Bellewstown recently. He'd disappointed on his hurdling debut here last Autumn and was found to have burst a blood vessel. The market support went astray as Shark Hanlon's Los Toldos landed the spoils. 

He was having his second start for the Carlow trainer having been purchased out of Charlie Appelby's yard for £27,000 having won a Novice Stakes at Kempton last year.

Jockey Sean Flanagan was suitably impressed. "He's a gorgeous, big, good-looking horse. He improved off the back of his first run here over hurdles.” 

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The race was run in memory of Patrick McCarthy (or Paddy Mac) who was an exceedingly popular member of the racecourse for many years.

The Rated Novice Hurdle attracted the smallest field. Rachael Blackmore dictated throughout on Henry De Bromhead's Ma Belle Etoile for a facile twelve lengths success. She'd been a costly failure at Naas last month and was easy to back at 4/1.

Division 1 of the Tesla Handicap Hurdle went to Next Stop Paris the easy-to-back 5/2 favourite for Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue. Local trainer Michael Winters saddled the quietly fancied 7/1 chance Crowsatedappletart to finish fourth.

Carrigtwohill trainer Terence O'Brien and Glanworth jockey John Shinnick combined to land the three-mile maiden hurdle with the well-backed Nytol who'd been 3/1 in the offices and went off 6/4 favourite. She confirmed the promise of an excellent run here on Easter Sunday to justify market support.