Killenaule's Rachael Blackmore and Martin Hassett were in the winner's enclosure at Clonmel Races

Above: William Burke, General Manager of the Talbot Hotel Clonmel, makes a presentation to owner John Maher following Lucky Zebo’s victory in the Talbot Hotel Clonmel Handicap Hurdle at Clonmel Races. Also included are winning jockey Rachael Blackmore and Laura Jones of the Talbot Hotel

It was a good evening for Killenaule at Clonmel Races last Thursday evening, with jockey Rachael Blackmore and Martin Hassett’s family-run training operation featuring among the winners on the eight- race card.

Local sponsors Camida, an international company that supplies raw ingredients to the pharmaceutical industry and was founded by its MD David Anchell in New Inn in 1988 before moving to Clonmel’s New Quay two years later; the Talbot Hotel Clonmel and Tote Ireland lent their support by sponsoring races, and groups of their staff members were out and about, enjoying the atmosphere.

Blackmore and Waterford trainer Henry de Bromhead dominated proceedings with a double via Gentleman Joe in the Camida Perfect Chemistry Rated Novice Hurdle and easy scorer Lucky Zebo in the Talbot Hotel Clonmel Handicap Hurdle.

Just for good measure, Blackmore’s partner Brian Hayes was aboard Martin Hassett’s top weight Battle Of Ridgeway who, sprang a 16/1 surprise on his handicap debut in division two of the Camida The Source Handicap Hurdle.

Owned by the trainer’s wife Deirdre and led up by their daughter Megan, the five-year-old finished with a late flourish to deny another local hope Roman Parish, from the David O’Brien yard.

Hassett agreed afterwards that the handicapper was right in his assessment but admitted “I nearly choked when I saw the handicapper had given him a mark of 94 and rang him to say he was raving, but he was right and I was wrong!

“We left the instructions to Brian, but I told him not to force it and to ride him wherever he was happy.

“The horse always showed us plenty and we thought he was going to be our retirement fund and went for point-to-points, but he was just immature and it didn’t work out”.

Hassett added “It’s hard to win first time in a handicap but I thought he did it well and maybe he could yet be the horse we thought he was”.

Above: Evie O’Brien and her father Keith, representing winning owners Robcour, accept the trophy from Noelle Dunne, Fiona Callanan and Louise Coen from Camida following the success of Gentleman Joe in the Camida Perfect Chemistry Rated Novice Hurdle. Trainer Henry De Bromhead is on the left

Robcour’s 5/2 chance Gentleman Joe had earlier set the ball rolling for de Bromhead and Blackmore when opening his account at the sixth time of asking in the rated novice hurdle.

Fiona Callanan, who works in the logistics department of Camida, presented the prize to Robcour’s Lisronagh-based farm manager Keith O’Brien, who was accompanied by his young daughter Evie.

Gentleman Joe’s trainer said “It’s taken a while but he’s a big fellow who took a bit of pulling together.

“We threw him in at the deep end a couple of times, but he’s still a young horse and we’re only getting there now with him. He’s probably better going right-handed than left and we’ll look for something similar and just try to get him to progress along”.

Stable companion and favourite Lucky Zebo was a comfortable winner of his event when coasting home by three and a half lengths from Dancing Jeremy.

De Bromhead said “His owners, the Mahers from Dublin have been great supporters of ours and they have had a lot of good horses over the years, including the 1993 Triumph Hurdle winner Shawiya and Knife Edge.

“This fellow is a real chaser, so we’ll see how we go but it would be great if he could get somewhere near them.
“Still, he’s progressing and we’ll keep to handicaps and run through the summer”.

Laura Jones, the Talbot Hotel Clonmel sales and marketing manager and its general manager William Burke, made the winning presentations.

Laura said afterwards “We’re busy preparing for the season ahead and all our senior management team are here this evening”.

The Clonmel Racecourse Supporters Club Maiden Hurdle went to Evesham Road, representing the father and son duo of Charles and Philip Byrnes, who was driven out to land a sizeable gamble by a length and a half from Napper Tandy.

The 5/1 shot (66/1 in the morning and 10/1 on course) carries the red and white colours of John Lane and family, who live just outside Fermoy.

Above: Winning trainer Martin Hassett accepts his prize from Denise Murray and Louise Slattery of Camida following the success of Battle Of Ridgeway in the Camida The Source Handicap Hurdle (Division 2)

Long-time Supporters Club member Luke Duggan from Moorestown, who has been a member of the supporters club for almost 30 years since it was started, made the presentation to Evesham Road’s owner, who told him he had a winner at Powerstown back in 1986.

Market leader Old Ground, a half-sister to Cheltenham Festival-winning mare Coolreevy, skated up in the bumper for the Willie and Patrick Mullins team when slamming Pipers Boreen by 11 lengths in the silks of Claire and Niall Flynn, owners of the Park Hotel in Dungarvan, who have taken over the family’s famed racing colours from his mother.

Mullins said of Old Ground, “She has a fabulous pedigree and the Flynns are super breeders.

“She has a lot of ability and we’ll decide whether she gets a break or goes for a winner’s bumper. She’s definitely one to look forward to, in summer or winter”.

The free race card competition, kindly sponsored by Eddie and Marie O’Gorman to celebrate their 51 years in Cloncahir House Stud in Woodrooffe, was won by Joe O’Sullivan from Kilmacthomas.

Racing returns to Powerstown Park for its very popular Bulmers Summer Barbecue Races Evening, one of the highlights of the year, on Friday June 9.