SATURDAY’s point-to-point at Loughbrickland again saw Northern yards come out on top, with only the open falling to a Southern raider, and it was a red letter day for Karen McNeilly who trained her first winner with her first runner when Benatar landed the four-year-old maiden.

Animal lover Karen trains in Staide, outside Ballyclare, where she lives with partner Paul Traynor, one of the family enterprise Bray Forge farriers, nearly month-old son Heath and a large collection of dogs and horses. The latter grouping includes sport horses as well as thoroughbreds.

“I’m over the moon!” said a delighted Karen on Monday evening as she discussed her debutant winner who was supported in to 3/1 from 6s. “This is all new to me and I couldn’t believe the number of people who have been trying to buy the horse since he won. He was very impressive and, while I’d love to keep him, selling him would allow us buy more and keep some of the others we have.”

Karen has two horses with Draperstown trainer Noel Kelly including Lusis Naturea, who started off his racing career as a pointer with the owner’s brother-in-law, Warren Ewing, but, since changing codes, has won twice over 10 furlongs at Dundalk and rarely runs a bad race. The five-year-old Multiplex gelding was due to run at the Co Louth track last night.