Derry racing sydicate threatened to 'drink Clonmel dry' to celebrate winner

Above: Mary O’Connor presents the trophy to trainer Gordon Elliott and Willie Lawrence makes a presentation to jockey Sam Ewing following the success of Ballybow in the Surehaul Mercedes Benz Grade 3 Novice Hurdle at Clonmel Races last Thursday. Also included are Dan, Mark and Donal O’Connor

Gordon Elliot, who captured last year’s renewal of the Grade 3 Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel with Search For Glory, has a 23% strike rate with his runners at Powerstown Park, and he repeated the feat last Thursday by sending out market leader Ballybow to take the spoils in the three-runner contest under Sam Ewing.

Sent to post as the 5/6 favourite, the six-year-old led from start to finish and, despite jumping slightly left at times, kept on best when strongly pressed on the run-in for a half-length win over his market rival Ballygunner Castle.

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Next stop for the Gigginstown House Stud winner is the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham, with Elliott commenting, “To be honest, if I was Sam I’d have followed Ballygunner Castle instead of him following us and pushed him along. They went no gallop, though, so that’s why he’s riding them.

“They quickened over the last two and what I did like about our horse from the second last to the line was that he dropped his head and showed a good attitude.

“I think the Albert Bartlett will suit him and he could have an each way chance in a race like that with a lead, coming at a few horses”.

Surehaul are in their 17th year of sponsoring the feature race.

The company, which is located in Derrygath and owned by the O’Connor family, who have a long history of involvement in the ownership and breeding of racehorses, specialises in the sale of new Mercedes-Benz vans and trucks, as well as quality used vans and trucks, plus servicing and repairs of the same. They will also look after your CVRT needs.

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Surehaul’s director Mark O’Connor enjoyed the occasion, commenting “It was a close race, even though there were only three horses in it and it was a bit of a fight to the line”.

His brother and fellow director Dan was also on hand for the presentation made by their mother Mary to the successful trainer, who emphasised “The prizes in Clonmel are always fantastic”.

Sam Ewing, meanwhile, received his trophy from Surehaul’s newly-appointed director of sales Willie Lawrence.

Amateur rider Dara McGill from Maghera doubled up via his father Gary’s 9/2 chance Apologise and John Ryan’s My Gaffer. Apologise is owned by the 14-strong Oakleaf Lads Syndicate, who had left Derry at 6am and threatened “to drink Clonmel dry” before returning home, saying “your hospitality in Tipperary is always good”.

Wicklow trainer Philip Rothwell was denied another double when having trained Ar Nos Na Gaoithe to win the fifth race on the card, his runner Natural Breeze was collared on the line by Luminous Light in an exciting finish to the SIS Supporting Irish Racing Novice Handicap Chase.

The next meeting at Powerstown Park takes place next Thursday February 27, with the first race at 1.40pm.

SYMPATHY

The Directors and Management of Clonmel Racecourse extend their sincerest sympathy to the O’Sullivan family, Lombardstown, Co Cork on the tragic death of brilliant jockey Michael O’Sullivan.

Michael rode a number of winners at Clonmel in his short career and was a very popular young man in and out of the weigh room.