Twenty eight year old trainer Enda Kelly recorded his first winner at Clonmel today when Sauterelle landed the opening Slievenamon Claiming Race in Lady O'Reilly's colours.
Partnered by Declan McDonogh, the even money favourite made smooth progress to lead at the furlong pole, eventually scoring by two lengths.
A delighted Kelly later reported 'she was entitled to win, coming down in grade here. Lady O'Reilly sent her to me last year and it's a relief to get off the mark here. ' He added 'I spent time with trainers like Wayne Lucas, John Dunlop and Aidan O'Brien and got my license one year and one day ago. I now have about 15 horses in training myself.'
The Suir Handicap went to Tim Doyle's Laoise Beag under leading apprentice rider Catherine Gannon.
The 14/1 winner drifted noticeably inside the final furlong before holding the challenge of Time On Your Side with a surprised Doyle later commenting 'the different tactics suited her because she needs to be up with the pace.'
Ride of the day would probably go to Danny Grant for his handling of 11/4 favourite The Cute Won in the June Handicap. Grant was quickly out of the 'blocks', opened up a clear lead before driving Pat Flynn's gelding out to make the best of his way home. The Cute Won eventually held Can't But Me Love by two lengths.
There was a dramatic conclusion to the 2m1f beginners' chase with Mouse Morris' eventual winner The Gallantjohnjoe benefiting from a series of errors from his rivals.
Eleven to ten favourite Galway Breeze looked to have arrived with every chance until blundering away his chance at the second last while Cardinal Valley did fall and brought down Gunner Alright.
Approaching the final fence, Tobeornotobe held a narrow lead with The Gallantjohnjoe in fourth. However the latter named blundered badly leaving The Gallantjohnjoe to pick up strongly in the closing stages, eventually passing Westfield Dancer well inside the final furlong.
Champion Jockey Barry Geraghty rode Ogan Hill to win the two mile Handicap Hurdle for Wexford based trainer John Codd. According to Codd, 'Ogan Hill will be kept in his own class, provided the handicapper isn't too tough on him.'
He added 'I bred and trained her mother while I rode her to win over the banks at Punchestown in 1986!'
Dr Julian overcame an awful mistake at the final flight to provide trainer Michael Hourigan with a win in the Glanbia Maiden Hurdle. Jockey Timmy Murphy sent the winner to the front before the hurdle but over-jumped and almost came down, with Murphy quickly getting the winner on an even keel to beat All Fours by a length and a half.
Hourigan reported that the winner 'will now be given a break and would probably prefer a bit of of cut in the ground.'
The concluding bumper looked a weak contest on paper and went to Ballyboe Boy who received another fine ride from Paul Tobin.
Thomas Weekes.
