Honeysuckle memories still fresh for Mark O'Hare in his own venture

Mark O’Hare will forever be able to dine out on being the man who found the dual Champion Hurdle heroine Honeysuckle, having steered the wondermare to victory on her sole point-to-point start.

The Northern Irishman, a much respected amateur rider who claimed his own Cheltenham Festival victory in the 2005 National Hunt Chase, has now turned consignor and brings the first horse to run under his name, Molly Sanderson (lot 22), to Thursday’s Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale.

His daughter of Affinisea fell at the last at Ballycahane in Honeysuckle’s first colours, those of his wife Sarah.

O’Hare, who teamed up with his County Down neighbour Gerry Cosgrave with Honeysuckle and is now operating as Ballooleymore Stables alongside his career as a farrier, said: "Things happened slowly after I retired but I bought six three-year-olds last summer, and she was my first runner.

"She was flying home, it was just racing that she fell. I’ve got a lot of time for the filly and hopefully she’ll go to a good home."

Reflecting on Honeysuckle’s second title, he added: "I get nervous before the race, it’s got to the stage where you just don’t want her to get beat or hurt.

Molly Sanderson was Mark O'Hare's first runner under his own nameCredit: Debbie Burt/Tattersalls Cheltenham

"I stood down at the last hurdle, it’s just nice to be part of history. There was a roar the minute she hit the front and then when she passed the last it got even louder. The atmosphere was unreal.

"I followed her in afterwards, I didn’t want to miss that. You’ll probably never get the opportunity to do something like that again."

He also remembers the new Cheltenham queen vividly, having bought her for €9,500 at the Derby Sale.

"She was very laid-back at home and it was hard to get a read on her," he said. "I had a good laugh with my wife the day she ran, I gave her a kick when she landed over the last and she just sprinted to the line. I thought, 'She’s been holding back a bit at home here'. She’d just been training herself."

A long career in the ranks never yielded a Cheltenham ride for O'Hare's peer Gary Murphy, but he has also managed to secure a different spot for Affordale Fury (9) in rapid time.

Based in Wexford, Murphy secured a nice victory on Peter Maher's Ballyboker Bridge over the banks course at Punchestown and a few dozen in the point-to-point sphere, before calling time on life in the saddle in 2019.

He recently took out a permit and Affordale Fury, who dealt with tricky circumstances on his debut at Ballycahane this month, was not only Murphy's first winner as a trainer but a maiden strike for Whytemount Stud's Affinisea.

"I've been over a good few times, I wasn't successful enough to get a ride over there!" said Murphy.

"Myself and a good friend bought the horse on the first day of the May Sale that was held in August. He was a very simple horse from day one, he took training very well, and was a right good grubber. We just liked him and going there we were expecting a big run.

"There was a good hour-and-a-half delay down there, there was no ambulance, so it was a long day for any four-year-old. He was standing in his box for a long time, so to gallop the way he did was an achievement for him.

"Nothing has ever bothered him, he's never uptight, and when it's like that it's great.

Gary Murphy had a fine moment in the saddle when winning the P.P. Hogan Memorial Chase at Punchestown in 2015Credit: Patrick McCann

"There's a good bit of talk about the sire around the country, and he's a fine old horse, 16.2 hands, and hopefully he'll sell well."

Murphy says he has a handful of Affiniseas in his yard, including a filly he likes who is ready for a run imminently.

Having learned the ropes for many years with Ashleigh and Michael Murphy's respected Redbridge Stables operation, the former jockey is making the most of what seems to be a well-supported set-up that cropped up.

"For a while I didn't know what I was thinking of doing but an opportunity came up to train with a local man, Francis Whelan," he said.

"I've run only one or two others and we've about a dozen altogether, maybe eight four-year-olds and the rest are five. I've two good people riding out and working for me, and Sean Staples comes and rides a lot of them, along with Shane O'Rourke. I started only this year, so it was great to get off the mark when we did."

There are 26 lots catalogued to sell in the winner's enclosure at Cheltenham from 6.15pm, including a trio of unbeaten prospects from the Denis Murphy yard headed by Peaky Boy (8), from the family of Colreevy and Snap Tie.

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