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Treble for Codd at Ballinaboola

Eventual winner Down Ace & Derek O'Connor (left) jumps the last alongside Just A Tick & Jamie CoddEventual winner Down Ace & Derek O'Connor (left) jumps the last alongside Just A Tick & Jamie Codd
© Photo Healy Racing

BALLINABOOLA REVIEW

The well backed Bendanella took the opening race at Ballinaboola point-to-point yesterday, the first part of a quick double for his Ballindaggin, Co Wexford based trainer Donnachadh Doyle & jockey Andrew Latta.

The son of Heron Island finished a good second on his debut at Ballydarragh last month and he went one place better here as he came home an impressive two length winner from the Henry De Bromhead trained Tisamystery.

The winner will now go to the Brightwells Sale after racing at Cheltenham next Saturday.

Doyle & Latta quickly followed up in the next contest, division one of the Tattersalls Maiden Race for 5 & 6yo Mares, with Maxi's Lady.

The 6yo daughter of Gold Well put in decent performances on her last two outings and she beat the Denis Murphy trained, Jamie Codd ridden Call Mrs Jones by three lengths.

Simple Sums for Michael Cullen & Mikey Fogarty fell at the last when a beaten second while the Colin Bowe trained Lily Of Killarney, who is owned by Irish tenors Anthony Kearns & Ronan Tynan, was sent off the even money favourite but she could only manage a well beaten third.

There was an apt winner of the second division, as a daughter of the recently deceased Generous, Down Ace, scored for trainer Ross O’Sullivan with Derek O’Connor in the saddle.

Down Ace pulled up on her debut in November but ran much better to finish fourth on her next start at Lisronagh.

She jumped the last alongside the Brian Hamilton trained favourite Just A Tick, but a mistake at that fence swung the balance in Down Ace's favour and she stayed on well on the run-in to stretch clear and win by eight lengths.

Lisclogher Lad put in a game front running display to take the Nitrofert Maiden for 6yo geldings.

Trained in Mullinavat by Sean Walsh, the son of Muhtarram ran well last time out at Ballydarragh and he came on from that run to score under James O’Rourke from the Sean Osbourne trained Jamrham in second.

The William Elliott trained Lord Heathfield was going for a hat-trick in the winners of three and he held a clear advantage approaching the third last, but he came down at that fence under Gerry Mangan.

Richard Pugh's Schindlers Rock then hit the front before the last but Jamie Codd produced Top Four on the run-in and he kept on best to score by two and a half-lengths for trainer Tony Martin.

Codd quickly followed up in the next, the Open Lightweight, aboard the Brian Hamilton trained Warne (see race report).

The last race, the Nolan Transport 7yo & upwards maiden, was divided with division one going to the Michael McCullagh trained Candle Island (7/1).

It was real family affair for the McCullagh's as the 7yo gelding was ridden by son Shane (also down to as the owner) while top flat jockey Niall led up the winner.

The son of Heron Island (second winner of the afternoon for that sire after Bendanella) unseated last weekend at Killeagh but showed his ability here to score by two lengths beating the Vincent Devereux trained favourite Scenic Route into second.

Jamie Codd completed his three-timer in the last race on the card, division two of the older horses maiden.

His mount, Liberty One, was sent off the well backed even money favourite and the daughter of Milan scored in convincing fashion for trainer Liam Kenny.

About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.