STAR-CAST ROMEO

Romeo Coolio looks destined for the big stage after a dazzling debut at Belclare Reports, pages 2-3

DEREK O’CONNOR

‘Billaway won his usual prep race for the fourth time in arow and I’m sure he’ll be at the top of his game but he’s possibly vulnerable at this stage’ The multiple champion assesses Cheltenham’s Festival Hunters’ Chase Page 4

2022/23LeadingActiveNHSiresinGB&Ire

1 Yeats €2,295,328

2 Getaway €1,799,245

3 Shirocco €1,722,067

4 WalkInThePark €1,484,755

5 Mahler €1,307,987

6 Westerner €1,214,740

Following Cottage, Even Money, Fortina, Wrekin Rambler, Deep Run, Buckskin, Be MyNative, Supreme Leader, Oscar, Flemensfirth and Milan in a great NH tradition dating backtothe 1850’s Cottage Rake (by Cottage), winner of three Cheltenham Gold Cups (1948-50) for Vincent O’Brien

KILLINICK AT LINGSTOWN SUNDAY

VITAL ISLAND has made the banks course at Lingstown his own in recent years and he served up another exhibition of cross-country fencing to thrill a big crowd.

They had flocked to the Wexford venue in spite of the inclement weather to see him in the Rostoonstown Stud open – and he didn’t disappoint.

Re unit ed wi th Ti ern an Power for the first time in more than a year, the 11-year-old was five lengths too good for his 12 rivals as he picked up his fourth success over the Lingstown banks.

It was a victory that provided some compensation for local handler Richard O’Keeffe, who ha d ha rb ou re d hop es of saddling the Trans Island gelding in the Glenfarclas Cross Country race at the Cheltenham Festival.

“He’s not going to get into

Star performance

be for e she wa s so ld for £320,000.

Cheltenham as he’s number four on the ballot, so there was no point in travelling,” O’Keeffe said.

“He loves it here and all roads lead back to Punchestown now.

The Ladies Cup and the La Touche is where we will aim.”

Not for the first time at this fixture Richard Black looks to have struck gold after he unleashed Banprionsa to produce a mightily impressive debut performance in the Pa dg e Be rr y Me mor ial & Moortown Stud five-year-old mares’ maiden.

Six years ago Black saddled

Maire Banrigh to win the corresponding race by five lengths

The margin of victory for Banprionsa was even more impressive as she beat the recent Borris House runner-up Jetaway To Getaway by 22 lengths

She will now follow the same route as Maire Banrigh and be sent to the Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival sale

The success formed the middle leg of a treble for Barry O’Neill after he had opened the card by guiding Mayor’s Walk to a game victory in the Tattersalls NH four-year-old mares’ maiden.

The Walk In The Park mare struck the front on the downhill run into home straight but had to prove her toughness when challenged by Jasette D’Irlande and Kilbarry Saint at the last to prevail by three-quarters of a length