Vision De Maine makes memorable debut impression

ONLY 28 runners took to the track at Tyrella as quick ground re su lt ed in the fix tu re producing a rare walkover with Dento Des Obeaux the only horse declared for the Tom McDowell Memorial adjacent hunt winners’ race

The ten-year-old grey had met with a shock defeat in this race in 2020 but he was able to put that right in what was surely the simplest of Declan Lavery’s 63 point winners He simply had to canter Paddy Turley’s French-bred before the judge to claim victory.

“It was disappointing there were no runners as this has been his main target. It’s our local track and we fancied him to win no matter what turned up,” Turley said.

“Liam Gibney [owner] does a lot of work with him, and he has him in great form. He has an entry in the hunter chase at Thurles on Thursday and that looks the probable target.”

It was almost as easy for Boro

Star performance

Vision De Maine showed plenty of pace in winning on his debut

Melody in the Robert McCoubrey Memorial winners-of-two, as the ten-year-old raced clear of his only rival Grain De Folie.

A loose dog who pestered him on the run-in proved his biggest danger as he crossed the line a distance clear to give rider Jordan Ratcliffe the first success of his career

“We were quietly confident coming here,” handler Corrie Auchterlonie said. “We knew it was going to be a small field and he needed the run last time out, so we knew there was improvement coming.

“He needs good ground, so a winners’ race in Portrush could be his next port of call.”

A winners’ race is also next in line for Soivegotachance after his 33-length win in the INHSC older maiden for novice riders.

Th e Im pe ri al Mo na rc h gelding had finished down the field at this fixture in 2020 on his final start for Matthew Kelly before joining Darragh Bourke for a track campaign

Now an eight-year-old, he made an immediate impact on his first start back with Kelly when beating Le Mieux under Alex Harvey.

“His track form was very good and we had him ready to run in a point-to-point but with Covid hitting we had to turn to the track instead,” Kelly said. “He’s a very genuine type who jumps well.”

Cormac Doyle sent out his first four-year-old maiden winner of the season when Vision De Maine proved four length s too go od fo r the favourite Invicta Du Berlais in the Dennison Commercialssponsored event.

“He’s a very nice horse and we really liked him at home,” winning rider Jack Hendrick said. “He jumps very well and he travelled well on that nice

Limerick At Ballycahane Sunday

THE reigning champion mare La Feline got her season back on track with a gutsy victory in the Noreen McManus mares’ open. The eight-year-old had dominated the division over the au tu mn ca mp ai gn , winning three successive races before being beaten by Cheltenham Festival contender Rocky’s Howya in January.

De sp it e a sli ght injur y setback forcing her to spend several weeks on the sidelines, she landed her fourth success of the season when beating Ma Hoey by half a length

“We’re thrilled with that as she’s not been back and ridden out long after she got a bad cut on her leg during her last run in Aghabullogue,” Tipperar y handler Sam Curling said.

“Carina Bowe deserves all the credit with this mare. Carina does everything with her and does an amazing job.”

Curling added to his tally when sending out Baby Shally in the Gain Equine Nutrition & Hogan Stand Bar five-year-oldand-upwards mares’ maiden.

Bred by Gerard and Yvonne Kennedy of Sherbourne Lodge stables, the Soldier Of Fortune ground, although in time he would probably want it softer

“He was green through the gap but when the other horse came to his girth he found again and I had plenty of horse left.”

Doyle’s older brother Sean ensured the Wexford raiders had a highly worthwhile trip to the Down venue when he sent out Bobbisilver to land the Tattersalls NH mares’ maiden

The Malinas mare found trouble in running after the second-last but overcame it to beat the twice-placed Barrons Land by two lengths Ju st over t hree lengths