Point - To - Point Weekly 12-04-2023

GIANT MOMENT

Park The Giant puts James Murphy on course for the first double of hiscareer at Curraghmore Reports, pages2-3

DEREK O’CONNOR

‘The O’Sullivans continue to be amajor influence and on Monday it was the turn of Alan, who rode Dundaniel to win the John Thomas McNamaraHunters Chase at Cork’ Page 4

PROVEN GRADE 1 SIRE BY GALILEO

SIR ARGUS, bred by J L Lightfoot, won a maiden hurdle at Cork on Monday for Willie Mullins DON’T TELL SU, bred by Robert O’Callaghan, won a bumper at Chepstow on Monday for Paul Nicholls OAK GROVE, bred by Coolmara Stables, won the 4YO Maiden at Oldcastle on Sunday for Rob James

Doyle’s confidence in Cooper justified

SEAN DOYLE began Easter in st yl e wh en D B Co op er impressed with a winning debut under Jamie Scallan in the Goffs UK Aintree Sale fouryear-old geldings’ maiden.

D B Cooper had just moved through to join issue with fellow debutant Prends Garde A Toi, from the powerful Colin Bowe yard, when making a mistake three out.

The son of Getaway then had to play catch-up with the Barry O’Neill-ridden favourite

The eventual winner picked up the running before the last, but it was Prends Garde A Toi who jumped more slickly. The

Monbeg Syndicate-owned chestnut had the quicker turn of foot on the run-in, however, and forged clear to beat Prends Garde A Toi by two lengths

“He’d been working well with some four-year-olds who had won and I was confident coming here, but a bit afraid of the ground,” Doyle said,

D B Cooper is a maternal grandson of Listed placed hurdler Swiss Hall and was bought for €28,000 at last year’s Goffs Land Rover sale.

Sam Curling’s Cobra Queen stepped forward from her Lisronagh debut third in benefiting from a well-executed ride

Star performance

D B Cooper clocked a quick time in a race in which the front pair pulled well clear

from Derek O’Connor to land the Tattersalls NH, Mag & Noel Long, Hickeys Bar Mount Uniacke four-year-old maiden.

Th e da ugh ter o f Mi la n moved through to dispute the running from the fifth fence and was then always in charge.

She was pressed by Bluey and Kiltealy Park until the last, but Cobra Queen was the faster in the air and drew clear to beat Bluey by two lengths with the

promising Kiltealy Park a neck adrift in third.

“She came on a lot from her first run in Lisronagh but she would prefer better ground,” Curling said.

The John O’Leary-owned winner’s granddam is a halfsister to Irish Grand National winner The Bunny Boiler

The biggest cheer of the day was reserved for Loughaneala Og after the Aherns Centra & Mark Landers mares’ maiden as the daughter of Flemensfirth is trained by the meeting’s clerk of the course Liam Burke.

Ex-track racer Loughaneala Og made most of the running

EAST ANTRIM AT LOUGHANMORE SATURDAY

DEREK O’CONNOR was in hat-trick form for the second time this season and, just as with his treble at Lisronagh five months earlier, La Feline was at the centre of it

The Peggy Hagan Memorial mares’ open had only three runners, but it was quality over quantity. The race featured a clash of the last two champion point-to-point mares with La Feline and The Forge Hill crossing paths for the second time this season.

As had been the case at Ballycahane a month ago, it was La Feline who triumphed, edging her winning margin of one and a half lengths at Limerick up to two lengths here

“She’s a top mare. She has her quirks but on her day she is very good,” trainer Sam Curling said. “She’ll stay down the open route. She’s won on the track for Paul Nolan, but pointto-pointing is her game now.

but was headed two out by Barrons Land She resumed command on the run to the last under Mikey O’Connor to beat Barrons Land by four lengths in the colours of the Home Before Dark Syndicate.

Barrons Land’s handler Colin Bowe and rider Barry O’Neill combined to win the Hurleys SuperValu, Midleton maiden with Painted Wolf

Narrowly beaten by Cheltenham Grade 2 novice hurdle winner Rock My Way at Castletown-Geoghegan in October, Painted Wolf overcame jumping errors before beating deadheaters’ Papillondelumiere and

Leading mare La Feline stars in O’Connor treble

Star performance

I Play County dug deep to fend off another promising recruit in a maiden likely to throw up plenty of winners

All roads now lead to defending her champion mares’ title.”

The 11-time champion rider created a throwback when sporting the colours of course landowner Wilson Dennison for the other legs of his treble

The O’Connor-DennisonColin McKeever axis had been formidable for many years in

the region and Nativehill saw them reunited for their first success together in two and a half years in a division of the Connolly’s Red Mills maiden.

Sixth on his Tattersalls debut, the Flemensfirth gelding achieved what his five-time Grade 1 winning half-brother Bellshill failed to do by winning a point with his one-and-a-half length defeat of Mileview.

“He could be very good,” McKeever said. “I would have been very disappointed if he was beaten today. We came here with a couple of chances,

WATERFORD AT CURRAGHMORE SUNDAY

JAMES MURPHY’S first double included a debut ride for Philip Fenton as the 23-year-old jockey landed the John Flavin Racing five-year-old geldings’ maiden on Park The Giant

Third on previous starts at Dromahane and Ballyvodock, Park The Giant was always close to the lead before taking up the running five out.

Although slowing just before the last he was already in control and beat the staying-on Lord Desart by two lengths in a race in which just over four lengths covered the first five.

“We gave him a break after his third at Ballyvodock and he loved the ground here,” Fenton said of the Steeplechasers

Cl ub-o wn ed wi nner, a towering son of Walk In The Park out a half-sister to Grade 3-placed chaser Tipolino Murphy brought up his

Slaney Opera by 12 lengths.

Th e Be njami n Ha ls al lowned Painted Wolf is out of a sister to triple Grade 1 winner Thyme Hill.

In the T & M Fitzgerald & Greentech adjacent hunts maiden, Alan O’Sullivan shone when bringing Jimmy Kelly’s mare Cloudy Fountain, owned and bred by James Reaney, from off the pace to win.

The Darragh Higgins-ridden On Lovers Walk mastered his sole rival Minella Blueway in the East Cork Oil winners-ofone to oblige for handler Gerry Kelleher’s nieces, Abigail and Lucy Kelleher

but he was the main hope.”

Ballymackie completed a successful day for the trio when he followed up his Punchestown victory with a one-and-ahalf-length defeat of Golden De Coeur in the Fleet Financial winners-of-two. He may be set for a hunter-chase campaign

Ellen Doyle introduced subsequent triple Grade 1 winner The Mean Queen at the Antrim venue in 2020 and it was another offspring of Doyen who the Ou la rt ha ndl er successfully brought to the course when I Play County,

under Br ian Du nle av y, prevailed in a battle with fellow newcomer Clondaw Royale

The second division of the Dennison Commercials fouryear-old geldings’ maiden was dominated by Stuart Crawford, as his Larne stable was responsible for the first two home

It was his younger brother Ben who steered the €28,000 Land Rover sale purchase Jasmin De Vaux to a fivelength defeat of Largy Poet

El Fabienne had fared best of Crawford’s two runners in the openin g Ta tt er sa lls NH

Giant leap for Murphy as he secures first double strike

Star performance

Kingston Pride made an excellent winning debut in the four-year-old maiden

do ubl e on the Te re nc e

O’Brien-trained newcomer Pitwood Road in the Kilbarry Lodge Stud five-year-old-andupwards mares’ maiden.

The Proconsul-sired Pitwood Road was patiently ridden before edging closer three out.

She surged to the front on the run-in to beat longtime leader Party Vibes by one and a half

lengths in the colours of British-based Derrick Mossop

Seventeen-year-old Michael McGrath, a fifth-year student at Dungarvan CBS, recorded his first win on his father Roger’s newcomer Ballinrea in the Tramore older geldings’ maiden for novice riders.

Ballinrea eased to the front two out and survived a slightly anxious moment at the final fence before beating Stayinalive by three lengths

“He’s a lovely horse and I’d imagine he’d now be sold,” the wi nnin g ha ndle r sai d of

Ballinrea who is owned and bred by Paddy Condon from Glengoura.

The Tom Keating-owned and trained grey Kingston Pride impressed in a winning debut in the Goffs UK Aintree Sale four-year-old maiden.

Kingston Pride began his move with Chris O’Donovan three out, easing into fourth spot on the outer as the warm favourite The Enabler held sway in front. He edged ahead two out but lost momentum on the approach to the last.

That was enough for The

four-year-old mares’ maiden in chasing home Star Of Hoiho Sixth in a red-hot race at Lingstown on her debut, the bay made that experience count under handler Benny Walsh to book her place at the sales with a seven-length win. New owners will also be sought for Caherty after the Affinisea gelding made the perfect start to his career in the first division of the Connolly’s Red Mills maiden with a fivelength defeat of El Barakah for the Noel McParlan-Gerald Quinn combination.

Neville Reid’s homebred The Gambler stepped up from her third at Portrush to continue a good season for Declan Lavery and Patrick Turley. They beat Foxylee by six and a half lengths in the Barclay Communications maiden, the second consecutive defeat Foxylee had suffered by a Turley stable inmate.

Enabler to hold every chance on the run-in, but the winning son of Kingston Hill asserted as the line approached to score by a snug two lengths

“He’s a lovely horse who had been working really well and he’ll now go to a sale,” Keating said of Kingston Pride, whose dam is a half-sister to five-time track winner Cavite Beta from the same family as Trabolgan.

The Stevie O’Donoghuetr aine d Drip se y Mo on followed up last month’s Knockanohill maiden victory by landing the Tattersalls NH

winners-of-one contest.

He disputed the running until going for home with Alan O’Sullivan before the secondlast, but seemed a sitting target for the closin g Je ssm ae approaching the last Jessmae touched the front on the run to the line, but Dripsey Moon fought back tenaciously to score by a neck in the silks of his handler’s fiancee Sharon Kelly. It’s likely Dripsey Moon will now be sold.

The Michael Butler-trained Hit The Button sluiced home on his pointing debut under Troy Walsh in the SE Construction Ltd confined maiden.

The five-year-old ex-hurdler, owned by joint-breeder Tom Ryan, took up the running two out and powered clear to beat Weir Lane by nine lengths Hit The Button could now contest a maiden hunter chase.

BALLYMACAD AT OLDCASTLE SUNDAY

Bold Enough now in line for Stratfordtrip

BOLD ENOUGHtookhis tally for the season to four after he defiedaquickturnaround to winonconsecutiveSundays in the Bective Stud open.

Theeight-year-old Bold Enouigh(right)had scarcely come outofsecond gear to landthe BarbourCup seven days earlier at CastletownGeoghegan and the manner of his follow-up wasjustas dominant, as BarryO’Neill steeredhim to afour-length defeatofDiese DesBieffes

ThesuccessgaveO’Neill, trainer David Christie and owner RayNicholas achange in fortune afterthe shock defeatofodds-on Ferns Lock in the Fairyhousehunter chase the previous afternoon.

“Hewas good there,”Christie said. “Wecould go to Listowel, then maybetoStratford.”

Christie’sFermanagh stable missed outonadouble when the grey Sifakawas deniedbya sho rt he ad in th eA BM Constructionnovice riders’race.

Thegame victoryofShane Donohoe’s BrilliantCorners wasone that will livelongin the memory of Tallaght native LeeShanahan, as it gave him his firstpointingwinner

“Heshould have wonhis maiden alongtime ago; he’s not abad horse,”Donohue said. “I’m delightedtogiveLee his firstwinner. He worksfor Ross O’Sullivan and is alovely young lad.”

Themargin of success was

Star performance

Oak Grove, related to Shishkin andVolerLa Vedette, battled gamelyto take theopener

morecomfortable for Keep Me

Posted as he pickedupwhere he left offearlier in the season with a12-length defeat of GetawayLodge in the Rea McGeeAuctioneers winners-oftwo.

TomCostello’s six-year-old hadestablishedhimself as one of the season’stop performers in thewinners’divisionwith victoryatBallindeniskonNew Year’s Day, and it wasCostello’s niece Laurawho guided the Shirocco geldingtosuccesson his firstoutinginthree months

“Hetravelled well and Iwas meanttotakealeadbut he jumped his waytothe front,” Costello said.

“Hegavememyfirst winner and he gave my sister herfirst too. Dadboughthim as a yearling and we’vehad good

sportwith him.We’ll hopefully have abit morefun with him.”

RobJamesisonthe sidelines with injury buthis string has ensured he hasremained pr es en ti nt he wi nner ’s enclosure. OakGrove washis fourth successofthe season as ahandler wi th anar row success in the GoffsAintree and Punchestown Salesfouryear-old maiden

Fourth on his debuttothe subsequent£290,000 seller Break My Soul at Tinahely, the Wexfordhandler calledonthe services of Mallowrider Finny Maguirefor the first time on the €75,000 purchase,and the Soldier Of Fortune gelding delivered for them by holding off Tommys Lawbyaneck.

“He’sa lovely horse,”James said.“He hada nice runat Tinahely wherehedidn’t really handle the track. We think alot of him and he hasagreat pedigreecomingfromthe Shishkin family. He’ll head to a sale now.”

Tommys Lawrider Barry Stone went one better in the TiermoreStudmares’maiden when the Clearistownrider combinedwiththe John Byrnetrained DairylaneDaisy

A€13,000 purchase as a three-year-old, the Kalanisi mare became the second daughter of her unraced Dr Massini-sired dam Massini Rose to wininthe pointing fields this season after the victory of hersisterRoseOf KalanisiatTattersalls.

Newownersare likely to be soughtfor GrandAlbert after he beat PoetryMan by 12 lengths in the Tattersalls NH, Oldcastle Co-Op and Oldcastle VeterinarySurgeons five- and six-year-old geldings’maiden for James Walshand Virginia Considine.

EAST ANTRIM AT LOUGHANMORE MONDAY

Broken nose failsto halt O’Connor charge

ADAY after breakingher nose, Aine O’Connor partnered Drumcliff to hisfirst victory between theflags

O’Connor smashedher nose in athird-lastfence fall from FightingFifth in the Ladies’ National at Fairyhouseon Saturday.

Ridingthe JP McManusownedDrumcliff,the Limerick rider wascontinuingher long association with the 11-yearoldgelding in theConnolly’s RedMills ladies open

O’ Con no r gu id ed t h Presentinggeldin to successina valuable chase at Uttoxeter in May2018 when he wasunder the care of her brother-in-law HarryFry,and th pair gained their t success together with victoryoverthree-time winner WoodbrookBoy by twoand a half lengths.

“He’salovely horseIwon on acouple of times for Harry, so I knowhim well,” O’Connor said.

“That winwillhavedone his confidencethe worldofgood. I’dsay Padraig[handler Roche] will look for another open for him nowbeforepossibly going onfor ahunter chase.”

De re kO ’C on no r( no relation) kept the O’Connor name flyinghighwithadouble of his own, started by the hardfoughtvictory of Susie Styler in the ITBA,TurkeyTrotters, Gort Co-Op Livestock Mart maiden.

An eyecatcher when falling

Star performance

ChampagneTwist had the measure of Getaginwhen that rivaldepartedatthe last to leavehim 12 lengthsclear

three outatBallyraggetin March, the Milanmaredug deep to fendoff theBandon runner-up Glendaars Fortune, who wasbeaten in atight finish for the second successive race

Amargin of just ahead hecoloursof mus Dunne, lks,which are a ss oc ia te d withthe 2009 Bec her Chasevictor

Vic Venturi, returntothe

w in ner ’s closure.

ave Starlight brought O’Connor’s tal ly of wi nner sf or the wee ke nd to fiv ea ft er a Loughanmore hat-trick24 hours earlier,when he landed the DinnyGould, O’Neill, P& NB oo km ak ers confine d maiden.

TheAsk gelding hadfailedto complete on eachofhis last twooutings,but thedropin grade broughtareturntothe pr omis eo fh is thi rd at LisronaghinNovember, as he hadthe measureofJimmy Mangan’sForgingSteel by two and ahalf lengths

“It’salwaysspecial to geta winnerhere,”handlerPaurick

O’ Connor sai d. “T he committee does an amazing

job and it’s wonderful to see such abig crowdhereagain.”

Roisin Hickey hasusedthe County Clarevenue to successfullyintroduce Champagne Fe ve ra nd Ch am pa gne Pl at inum,a nd wh il eh er Champagne Twist (above)was havinghis thirdstart, he became the latest impressive winneratthe trackfromthe Tipperar ystablewithhis 12-length defeatofBennettsbridge in the TattersallsNH and DanMcInerney &Sons five-year-old geldings’maiden.

Thesuccess wasawelcome change of fortunes for Brian Lawlessafter the Wicklowrider hadlostthe Grade ARybo Handicap Hurdle,the biggest successofhis career,inthe stewards’ room at Fairyhouse 24 hours earlier when his mountMonb eg Pa rk wa s demoted to second.

Mo nb eg Pa rk ’s ow ner Donnchadh Doyle held claims of takingthe Goffs UK Aintree Sale four-year-old maiden when Joystickapproached the finalfence with everychance alongsideJeu DesChamps, only for both horses to falter Slieve Carran took over to giveJohn Staunton his second successinthe agedivision this spring term.

Thefinal fencewas alsothe undoingofBarton Snow,asa slowleap handed the initiative to Blackwater Soldier inthe O’ConnorFamily geldings’ maiden, and Johnny Barry’s mountdidn’t need to be asked twiceashewentontowin by three lengths in the coloursof Rathcormacowner PatCulloty.

Aghmorough closes thetitle gapfor McElligott

MOIRAMcELLIGOTTtook full adv an ta ge of Ma xi ne O’Sullivan’sreroute to Corkby drawinglevel in the race for the ladies’ championship

Shemoved on to the fivewinner mark with AghmoroughBridge in theWilsons

Auctions winners-of-two

TrainedbyMcElligott’s husband, Willie Murphy, the seven-year-old Aghmorough Bridge hasbeena model of consistencyand entered the race with sevenconsecutive placedfinishesonher card Ow ne db yt he O’ To ole Familypartnership,she turned the five-runner race into a procession as shebeatthe Kirkistown winner Time Was

Star performance

AghmoroughBridge posted acareer-best with a 34-length defeat of asmart last-time-out maidenwinner by 34 lengths to supplement herDromahane success eight days earlier

“That’s the second time I’ve wononher andshe is sucha hardymare,”McElligott said.

“It’salongtripuphere, but that’s made it worthit. Shewill go for awinners-of-three next andisgood enough to wina mares’ open.”

BennyWalsh hadopened Saturday’scardatthe Antrim venuewiththe successofStar

Of Hoiho, and his in-form Wexfordstable came closeto repeatingthe feat48hours later when newcomer Skin Full ledthe field into the home straight in the Dennison JCB four-year-old auction maiden.

However, fellowWexford raider GetawayGlory thwarted his bid for asecond weekend winner when CormacDoyle’s £17,000 buycame through to winbya length and ahalf under 21-year-old Ross Sugrue

Peter Buchanan foiled a double for Wexfordraiderswhen the Grade 2-winningjockey saddledhis firstwinnerasa handler with Rosevale in the Islandbawn,INHSCmaiden.

Neat Localityled the field out

of the backstraightbut Declan Lavery wasfull of confidence and delivered thesix-year-old for afour-and-a-half-length win.

“She’d beenworkingwell and we kept her for this in hope of so me be tt er gr ou nd,” Buchanan said.

“Today wasthe plan.She probably won’t be for sale; we’ll look to keep her and breedfrom her.I’d liketorun her in a winners’race as she is sixand she doesn’t have much experience, then go to the track.”

SaintD’Oroux will attempt su ccessive Ba nk Ho liday Mondayvictories in the open at ToomebridgeonMay 8after theseven-year-old landed the John Thompson &Sons open.

No matchfor Le Malinand Winged leader in his lasttwo outings,the runner-upin

Kelso’s2022 Morebattle Hurdle completedanacross-the-card double for StuartCrawford

Moments beforethis victory over SamuraiCracker, the Larne handler alsosentout Ailie Rose to wina handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Crawford’sbrother Ross addedtothe familysuccesses when Annaghbeg followed up his Kirkistown maiden victory in the ToppingMeats adjacent winners-of-two.

TheConduit geldingfinished fift hb eh in ds ubs eq uen t bumper victorBallyburn at Loughanmore and Stephen

Connor’smount wasthree and ahalflengths toogood for Wilson Dennison’sFarmacaffleywinner Ballylinch

Thesupporters of Leish Oscars Son hadbeencounting their losses when the favourite fell at midwayonhis stable debutfor Graham McKeever at Portrush afortnightearlier

They gainedcompensation when the Kalanisi gelding delivered on that confidence in the Jacksons Butcher& Bakery maiden for novice riders.

Delivered confidently by Brian Barry, the seven-year-old hadplentyuphis sleeveas, sportingthe coloursofMartin Abernethy, he beatLough Des by nine lengths

DerekO’Connor Straight to thePoint Lar’sLasswin reflects Dreapers’ longstanding point-to-point links

ONEASTER Monday, while mostjumping fans were naturally concentratingonthe action at Fairyhouse, the point-to-pointcontingent was well catered for at Corkona card that included threehunterchasesand twopoint-to-pointbumpers

It’s arareopportunityfor hunter chases to takecentrestage.Even though the fixture is obviously overshadowed by the Irish Grand National meetingit’sanimportant dayinthe calendar for the point-topointcommunity.

By astrange coincidence,the first of the hunter chases waswon by Lar’s Lass,amarefromthe Dreaper stable which hasplayedsuch abig partinthe historyofthe Irish Grand National.

JimDreaper and his sonTom have worked together since Tomcame backfromEngland whereherode successfully as aprofessionaldespite beingaverytall lad.

Tomlooks after the point-topointers andJim continues to hold the licence for the track that he took over from his father in the 1970s

We often talk aboutthe tradition of point-to-pointinginIreland and its longhistory, butI wasa little surprised to learnthat the greatTom Dreaper, trainer of Arkle and arecord ten Irish Grand National winners, gained his firstexperience with point-to-pointers

He wasaleadingrider in points beforebecomingatrainer.I’m told that he rode his firstwinner on a horsecalled Dean Swift at the Fingal HarriersmeetinginMarch 1923. Amazingtothink that 100 years later Lar’s Lass qualifiedfor points with the same hunt committee.

Monday’sCorkresults hadother links to Irish Grand National history. TheJackTyner Memorial Hunters Chasewas wonbyDinnyLacey, trainedbyJames Motherway, who wonthe bigFairyhouserace with Bluesea Crackerin2010, and ridden by HarrySwan, whosefather Charlie wonit30yearsago ridingEbony Jane for Francis Flood

It’s good to see DinnyLacey find his level again. He wasapromising horseearlyinhis career,winninga bumper at Punchestown anda novice chaseatLimerick. It washis misfortune to finish thirdbehind EnvoiAllen and Fils D’Oudairies in a

Grade 3novice chaseat Punchestown twoseasons ago because it meanthestarted off in handicapswitha ratinginthe 130s that proved abit too much forhim

Hisowner,Brian Acheson, suggestedaswitchtohunter chasingwith Aintreeashis target. He ranout of time on that scorebut Punchestown is an option now, and he could be anice horsefor hunter chases nextseason.

Less than an hour after Paul Townend hadgiven IAm Maximusa brilliantride to winthe bigone at Fairyhouse, hisfather Timand sister Jody wonthe mares’ bumper with Straight Home,apromisingYeats mare whowon amaiden pointat

Kildorrery in February.

She’sout of ahalf-sister to the talentedGet Me OutOfHere, who went so closetoCheltenham festival successonseveral occasions for JonjoO’Neill and Tony McCoy.

It wasamemorable dayfor the Townend family, butasad onetoo after the death last weekofPauland

Jody’s uncleBob Townend, apopular character who wasa well-known jockeyinhis younger days and playeda bigpartinthe family tradition.

Iknewhim from his involvement with the organisation of point-topoints in his locality, and he always did agreat job whatever his role He’ll be sadlymissed.

O’Sullivanfamilytradition being maintained

Like theTownendfamily, the O’Sullivans continue to be amajor influence in Irish racing. On Monday it wasthe turn of Alan O’Sullivan, younger brotherof Michael,who rode Dundanielto winthe John Thomas McNamara Series Maiden Hunters Chase. Currentlystudyingatcollegein Cork, Alan,who rode his first winner on the 2020 Cheltenham FoxhunterChase winnerItCame To Pass forhis uncleEugene at Dromahane last April, hasbeen havingagoodseasoninpoints

He hasridden nine winnerssofar and is lyinginthirdplace in the battle for the Under-21 title behind Dara McGill (13) and Brian Dunleavy (10). This washis first success on the track.

Big-name trainers Gordon Elliott, HenrydeBromhead and Charles Byrnes hadrunnersinMonday’s geldings’bumperbut none could copewithFlemensface,trainedat TallowbyMichael Griffin and ridden by JohnnyBarry.

This Flemensfirth gelding, winner of amaidenpointfor Alan Ahern last month,has anoteworthypedigree, beingout of ahalf-sister to the brilliantMaster Minded. He’s a brother to Flemenstide,abumper and hurdles winner for Paul Nicholls, and is agood sales prospectfor connections

Theformofthe race lookssolid Runner-up Asian Master, who is from the familyofthe talented Quantitativeeasing, haswon pointto-points at Belclareand Belharbour for the Costello family, and thirdplacedWhat’s Up Darlingwon at Quakerstown in Decemberfor John Costello beforebeing sold for £280,000 to join Elliottinthe Gigginstown colours

Alsoonthe Corkcard, Iwas pleased to see Diarmuid Moloney, who worksfor my brother Paurick, ride Brandy Harbourtowin a handicap chase.

This washis thirdwin on the nineyear-old and his fifth in all. I’ve alwayssaidthere’snothingbetter for ayoung rider’s confidence than gettingafew winners on the board, and he gotthe best outofa horse who needsabit of coaxingto produce his best form.

‘It’sgood to seeDinny Laceyfindhis level again. He was apromising horse earlyinhis career ’

Alan O’Sullivan,the youngerbrother of Michael, earninghis first points victoryaboard It Came To Pass last April

HEALYRACING

tASHROE DIAMOND won the Honeysuckle

Mares Novice Hurdle-Grade 1 by 5 lengths for the Blue Blood Racing Club, Willie Mullins and breeder Mrs J. M. Mullins

NICK ROCKETT won the Paddy Kehoe

Exciting double on Easter Monday:

FIREFOX won the bumper at Fairyhouse for Bective Stud, Gordon Elliott and breeder Grange Stud “he is a potentially high-class sort for novice hurdles next season” RACING POST

ALL RIGHT NOW won the Prix Orvilliers (4YO conditions race over hurdles) on debut at Compiegne for owner/breeder Ecurie Piquemal and trainer H. De Lageneste & G. Macaire

Another smart winner on Easter Sunday…

WILL DO won the bumper at Cork for Gigginstown House Stud, Gordon Elliott and breeder Alan Loughlin

Fairyhouse double on Easter Saturday…

CANAL END won a 24-runner maiden hurdle by 4¼ lengths for J. P. McManus, Peter Fahey and breeder Mr And Mrs L. & A. Gleeson

WESTERN WALK won a Grade B novice handicap hurdle for Ruth Brown & John Loughlin,Jonathan Sweeney and breeder Thistletown Stud

Another double last Thursday…

RESPLENDENT GREY won on his hurdling debut at Wetherby for Mrs R.J. Skan, Olly Murphy and breeder Ms M. Kavanagh

SHANNON ROYALE, a £300,000 purchase, won a bumper at Clonmel on his second start for Robcour, Gordon Elliott and breeder Vambeck Bloodstock

tSuspended Ceilings Novice Hurdle-Grade 2 by 15 lengths for Stewart & Sadie Andrew, Willie Mullins and breeder Mr K. D. Cotter An outstanding sire by MONTJEU

Contact: David Magnier, Albert Sherwood, David O’Sullivan, Andrew Magnier & Catherine Magnier: 025-33006. Robert McCarthy, Bobby McCarthy & Peter Kenneally: 058-56254. Tom Gaffney, Joe Hernon, Paddy Fleming, Cathal Murphy & Barry Kennedy: 025-31966.