TOON River won the Grade B Holden Plant Rentals Shamrock Handicap Chase over two and a quarter miles at Gowran Park on Saturday, and almost as remarkable as the fact that this was his second victory in that blacktype contest is that all five wins in his career have been at that Co Kilkenny venue.

Now aged 11, he is a son of the late Old Road Stud stallion Witness Box (by Lyphard), the horse who also gave us high-class performers such as Take The Stand, Monbeg Dude, Colbert Station, Godsmejudge and Wymott.

He was bred by Michael O’Donovan, who sold him for €7,500 in the foals section of the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale, and he is the only winner under National Hunt rules for his dam Melody Thyne (by Good Thyne), a mare who comes from a well-known family.

Her dam Melodic Belle (by Black Minstrel) was also unraced, as was the next dam Swifty Belle (by Deep Run), but the fourth dam was a significant racehorse and there are plenty of blacktype horses on the page.

Howcleuch (by Buckskin), who won three times over fences, is a half-sister to Melodic Belle and she is the dam of Rambling Minster (by Minster Son) whose double-digit tally of wins included the Grade 3 Blue Square Vodka Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Haydock.

Sheipeil Bawn (by Laurence O) is another of her siblings and that mare’s star performer is Triptodicks (by Sheer Grit), the blacktype-winning hurdler who added eight wins over fences and took third place in the Grade B Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase at Punchestown.

PROLIFIC SCORER

Blacktype scorer Belle Artiste, the fourth dam of Toon River, was even more prolific as her final total was 14 wins, and although only three of her nine foals were successful on the track, the trio included the listed scorer Rambling Artist (by Wrekin Rambler) and smart stayer The Langholm Dyer (by Crash Course).

The latter won only once over hurdles but was 10 times successful over fences, and although none of those wins came in blacktype contests, he was placed in three of them including when runner-up in the Listed Eider Chase at Newcastle.

Their half-sister Brazilian Belle (by Giolla Mear) has also done her part for the family’s honour as she is the grandam of the nine-year-old Just A Par (by Island House) who won a Grade 2 novices’ chase at Newbury in November 2013 and then added the prestigious Grade 3 bet365 Gold Cup Chase over three miles, five furlongs at Sandown last April.

He was last seen out when unplaced behind Carole’s Destrier in a three miles, four and a half furlong chase at Sandown in December and he holds an entry in next month’s Grade 3 Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree.

Toon River, clearly a horse to follow whenever he runs at Gowran Park, is now a dual blacktype winner and he could complete a hat-trick in that race next year.