HARRY’S Bar warmed up for a trip to far more exotic climbs as he returned from a three-month break to make it two wins from as many starts for Adrian McGuinness in an intriguing six-furlong conditions race which will serve as a springboard for a trip to Saudi Arabia later this month.

Just a week after his 75,000gns purchase at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale, the Shamrock Thoroughbreds-owned six-year-old made a winning debut for McGuinness in the Listed Belgrave Stakes.

Three months later Harry’s Bar faced a good test as his two opponents featured the multiple pattern-race winner Speak In Colours.

The pair were inseparable at the head of the market at 11/8 but in the closing stages this race took on a one-sided look.

Gavin Ryan sent Harry’s Bar past Alfredo Arcano with over a furlong to run and the six-year-old kept on strongly to defeat fellow Saudi-bound runner Speak In Colours by three and a quarter lengths.

“He’s heading to Saudi and it was lovely to get the blow into him. He’s done it easy enough in the end,” said the trainer who will also be sending Saltonstall to Saudi Arabia, while Bowerman will contest a race in Qatar at roughly the same time.

“He’s going to be running on dirt over there but hopefully he’ll handle it. It’s all new to him but there is a lot of money there and it’s worth going and taking a punt. Gavin will ride him.”

Kinane colours

Michael Kinane’s wife, Catherine, saw her colours carried to victory by Ross O’Sullivan’s Rocky Sky in the three-year-old mile maiden.

This 10/1 chance caught the eye on her debut here in early December when she was placed for trainer Una Corcoran and she took a step forward here on her first run for O’Sullivan.

Gary Halpin’s mount held every chance as the last furlong loomed and then finished out determinedly to defeat the 6/5 favourite Devil’s Outlaw by half a length.

“It’s the first horse we’ve had for Michael and Catherine and it’s great to have their backing,” commented O’Sullivan. “She had a good first run here (third to Queenship) and I think she’ll keep progressing. She had no trouble stepping up from seven furlongs to a mile either.”

Gavin Cromwell and Gary Carroll teamed up to take the 45-70-rated handicap over a mile with Howyoulikethat.

This lightly-raced four-year-old was making just the fourth appearance of his career and was returning to the fray just a week on from finishing sixth behind Turbo Command in a maiden at this track.

The 11/1 chance struck the front well inside the last furlong and he possibly had a bit more to spare than the winning margin of half a length over Koybig would suggest.

The Top Five Syndicate-owned winner could easily be adding to his tally in the coming weeks.

A NUMBER of riders got off the mark for 2021 at this fixture and they included Ronan Whelan who was taking his first rides of the year and these included Michael Halford’s Sienna Lady who took advantage of a good opportunity in the older fillies’ maiden over a mile.

This Michael Enright-owned and bred 2/1 favourite had shown more than enough on her previous 11 starts to suggest she could make her mark in a race such as this and she came from well off the pace to lead late on to defeat Dedillon by three-parts of a length.

Emmet McNamara also got off the mark for the year when he teamed up with John McConnell’s Blackstone Cliff in the second divide of the 45-65 rated handicap over 10 furlongs.

Now a winner of three of his last six starts, the James Wallace-owned and -bred 11/4 chance bided his time for much of the race but readily got on top when he was brought to the outer to make his challenge nearing the last furlong. He defeated Dance Emperor by a length and three-quarters.

This was a timely success for the winner as he was due to go under the hammer in an online Goffs sale on Monday.

Meanwhile, McNamara’s evening ended on a downbeat note as he was handed a six-day suspension for his efforts on Boasty who was third in the handicap won by Howyoulikethat.

The first division of that 45-65 rated handicap went to Charles O’Brien and Niall McCullagh as Crest Of A Wave (14/1) added to the victory she recorded here in early December.

The Painestown Syndicate-owned six-year-old was travelling smoothly on the inner early in the straight and knuckled down well under pressure over the last furlong to defeat Everyhouronthehour by half a length.

Rutledge continues her good winter

IT has already been a fine winter campaign for rider Siobhan Rutledge and she moved on to the five-winner mark at Dundalk courtesy of The Mouse Doctor (11/2) in the mile and a half handicap.

This capable Tony Martin inmate, who has now amassed seven wins, held every chance inside the distance and showed a good attitude to edge out Pempie by a short-head.

“He’s a grand old horse and I thought that Siobhan was excellent on him. He’s a summer horse and he’ll mix it between the flat and hurdles over the summer,” reported Martin.

The evening began with a well-judged ride from Colin Keane on Ecclesiastical (9/2) to claim the five-furlong handicap which provided Tom McCourt’s charge with his second career success. Keane bided his time off a stiffish early pace before producing the Sarah Foran-owned gelding nearing the last furlong.