Oxx enjoys more success in Clonmel

Saturday, 19 May 2001 18:49

Quadco, the toast of the layers last year when he landed the Aintree bumper at odds of 33/1, justified favouritism for Pat Fahy and Davy Russell in the Suir QR Maiden. "He's the best horse I've trained. I'll give him another start over hurdles and then a rest for a few weeks before bringing him back for Galway. The GPT Amateur Handicap looks the ideal race for him at the moment," said Fahy.

Shirzadiyan (4/5-5/4f), a son of Doyoun, trained by John Oxx, made virtually all the running under Niall McCullagh to win the opening 10f maiden. His task was eased somewhat when the complexion of the race changed dramatically on the downhill run to the straight. Market rival Nonchalant (Pat Smullen) lost his hind legs and crashed to the ground bringing down the chasing Pasteur and Warren O'Connor. Smullen was quickly on his feet but nevertheless stood down for the remainder of the afternoon by the course doctor while O'Connor was not so lucky, suffering a broken wrist. "We've no great plans. He did it the hard way around here from the front but we'll find a handicap somewhere," said Jim "Slim" O'Neill, assistant to the Currabeg handler.

Easiest winner of the session came in the 3m maiden hurdle when Philip Rothwell's Celio made all the running under a well-judged ride from Joe Casey and justified nice support from 12/1 to 7/1 in the process. In-form Colm O'Donoghue brought his seasonal tally to 7 when he produced Act Of Defiance (10/1) with a perfectly timed run up the running rail to sweep past front-running Celtic Project at the distance in the 12f handicap.

Double Account was friendless (3/1-9/2) in the ring but he scored by 6l in the end for Conor O'Dwyer after Jaybee-M crashed out at the penultimate fence when still in contention. Champion-elect Ruby Walsh teamed up with Strike Alliance to easily land the 2m4f handicap hurdle for Rathcoole permit holder Oliver McKiernan while Castlemyles (8/1) and Shuil Again (16/1) won both div. of the mares bumper

Filed by Greg McKevitt