THERE were some good performances by northern point-to-point graduates on the track over the weekend with Ravenhill Road winning his second bumper, from two starts, for the Brian Ellison yard at Doncaster on Friday.

Bred by US-based Comber-born bloodstock agent Jane Buchanan, the 2011 Exit To Nowhere gelding scored on his only start for the Crawford brothers when landing the five and six-year-old maiden at Broughshane in May in the colours of the breeder’s father Alan.

Also on the mark at the Yorkshire track last Friday was the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Deputy Commander who added a chase success to his hurdle win at Uttoxeter in April. The now seven-year-old Shantou gelding was in the care of Eyssen Ross when running twice at Tyrella in the spring of 2014.

Down in Newbury on the same day, the former Warren Ewing-owned and trained Reigning Supreme won the two and a half mile novices’ hurdle on his track debut. Runner-up in a Maralin maiden on the second of just two starts last season, the five-year-old Presenting gelding is now trained by Nicky Henderson.

Staying in England, on his second start, the Farmacaffley maiden winner Mr McGo won the two-mile novices’ hurdle at Bangor on Saturday. Now in the charge of Donald McCain, the five-year-old Touch Of Land gelding was trained by his owner/breeder Thomas McGeough when winning at the Tynan & Armagh fixture.

Also on Saturday, the Loughanmore graduate Bellshill came out of the fog to record a winning debut over fences in the two and a half mile beginners’ chase at Gowran. The six-year-old King’s Theatre gelding, who won by 10 lengths, has an impressive CV which includes three Grade 1 victories. When trained by Colin McKeever for Wilson Dennison, Bellshill finished second in a Maralin maiden.

There weren’t many northern-bred winners in the period under review but there was one at the West Waterford point-to-point at Boulta. Trained by Mouse Morris for Gigginstown House Stud, the Court Cave four-year-old is the second point winner bred this season by Jeremy Maxwell out of Titanic Quarter (by Turgeon).

While impressed with the naming of the mare’s Maralin scorer Willflywontsink (by Winged Love), I am less taken by Sunday’s victor, Eviscerating.