We could see Golantilla at Leopardstown at Christmas after he impressed all present at Avaune© Photo Healy Racing
On the same afternoon as his stable companion, Wedding Present, a winning 'pointer' himself, finished third in a Cork bumper, Golantilla was marking himself down as a name to note for an upcoming National Hunt flat race. The Sean O'Brien-trained newcomer impressively took the Hickey Bros. Precast & Knockacool Gallops 4-y-o geldings' maiden at the Clonmult/Dungourney meeting at Avaune last Sunday.
Colman Sweeney may have earned the headlines at this meeting with a treble but Golantilla laid down a strong claim to be the equine star of the show.
Ciaran Fennessy's mount, a well-touted favourite, was always to the fore and he easily went clear from before the second last on the way to dismissing Concordin by ten lengths. The victory was achieved despite the Golan gelding, a half-brother to O'Brien's recent bumper scorer, Caoimhe's Delight, erring at the final fence.
Golantilla could now contest the four-year-old bumper at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day.
He is from the family of eight-time winner, Oatis Regrets. (EM)
