Good Fella joins winning mob
New Year"s Day was certainly a happy one for local trainers and owners as the first race meeting of 2009 saw a number of Meath-connected successes at the Ratoath track. It was a family affair for the Mooneys from neighbouring Curraha as Good Fella repeated its New Year"s Day success of 2008 at the track and this year took the Happy New Year from Bambury Bookmakers Beginners Chase. Bred by the Mooneys, the 9/10 favourite was trained by Pat Mooney and with son Martin, who had ridden the horse to victory with an un-diagnosed broken leg last year, on board. The eight year-old had a clear 11-length victory ahead of Andrew McNamara on Sizing America. In the opening New Year Maiden Hurdle, Castletown trainer Noel Meade enjoyed success with his favourite Kandari, owned by JP McManus and ridden by Paul Carberry. The 4/9 favourite had finished second in a maiden hurdle at Gowran Park in November behind Quiscover Fontaine and was well-fancied at Fairyhouse on Thursday. The race win came after a close battle with Gentleman Jeff and in-form jockey Paul Townend, with Carberry eventually pulling ahead by four lengths. Navan businessmen Eamon Duignan and Cathal McCarthy celebrated success with Cockleshell Road in the next race, the Bobbyjo Bistro Maiden Hurdle, another favourite at 5/4. The bookies were getting off to a bad start, this time thanks to Eddie O"Grady and Andrew McNamara. From three out, the remaining threat was main market rival Themoonandsixpence, and Cockleshell Road got the better of Townend"s mount between the last two flights, winning by six lengths. Third-placed in this race was Jamsie Hall, owned by Teresa Mangan from Rathfeigh, and trained by Dunsany man Andy Lynch, with Robbie Dunne on board. Ashbourne jockey Andrew Lynch was in Tramore on New Year"s Day, where he followed up on his Welsh National success by partnering Michael O"Brien"s Beroni to win the Kent Bros Beginner"s Chase at 4/1, seeing off 2/1 favourite, Willie Mullins" Cru. On New Year"s Eve in Punchestown, Nina Carberry was in the winner"s enclosure when John McDowell"s Asigh Pearl, trained by Noel Meade, won the Irish NH festival Mares Flat Race at 9/2, while in Tramore on Wednesday, Adrian Maguire saddled Paddy Joe to win the Newtown Handicap Chase. Cortown jockey Roger Loughran made a welcome return to the winner"s enclosure at Naas on Sunday, with 7/2 shot, Dessie Hughes" Lurgan, in the opening maiden hurdle. In Cork on Sunday, Slippers Madden coasted in by 25 lengths on China Rock in his first win for his new retaining stable of Mouse Morris.