Oakly and Paddy Kennedy© Photo Healy Racing
Oakly put up a nice performance to spring a 33/1 surprise on his racecourse debut in the Castlerea Maiden Hurdle at Roscommon.
The silks that winning rider Paddy Kennedy sported here were carried with distinction in recent years by Lots Of Memories, and judging by the display of Oakly there could be some more good days ahead for the white and green stars.
On his only previous start the Brian Boru gelding was carried out in a point-to-point 23 days back.
In this extended two and a half miler Paul Fahey's Oakly 'missed' three out and he wasn't great at the next.
However ultimately that mattered little as the five-year-old accounted for Brave Poppy by eight lengths.
According to the 'Signposts' section in the Racing Post this was Kennedy's first winner at Roscommon and Fahey said: "I'm not surprised at all. We backed him in a point-to-point and he was carried out at the second. He's been a proper horse from day one.
"He was bought to replace Lots Of Memories, and is as nice a young horse as I've had around the place. I wanted my son Aaron to take out a licence and ride him in a bumper but he's concentrating on his leaving cert."
M.A. Enright, rider of Crazywork De Vassy (FR), trained by Michael J. McDonagh, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount is a big backward type and had difficulty handling the bends.
The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined High Five Oscar trained by Patrick G.Kelly, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be clinically abnormal post race.
B.J. Cooper, rider of Lettre De Cachet (GB) trained by Noel Meade, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount finished lame.
The Stewards fined A.J.Martin, trainer, €350 for lodging a passport in respect of Tayto Park (FR), in which the vaccinations did not conform with the provisions of Rule 91. The Stewards allowed the horse to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the vaccinations were in order.
(AM & EM)
