LARNE trainer Stuart Crawford ran five horses at Carlisle on the last day of March of whom two, the Horsplay Syndicate’s Our Valentina and Stuart’s own Lily’s Gem, managed to finish second under J.J. Slevin and Brian Hughes.

The latter was back at the Cumbian track last Sunday, and again riding for Crawford, landed the bumper on Raymond Scullion’s newcomer, Largy Glory. The four-year-old filly, who is from the first crop of the sadly deceased Fame And Glory, was purchased as a foal at Tattersalls Ireland’s 2014 November Sale by Scullion and Martin McGrogan who gave just €2,800 for the bay.

Other northern-connected winners recently included Dandolo Du Gite who won the bumper at Fontwell last Friday. The French-bred was second in a four-year-old maiden at Kirkistown in February last year on his only start for then owner/trainer Graham McKeever. Dandolo Du Gite is now in the care of another Co Antrim born trainer, England-based Neil Mulholland for whom he was racing for the second time on Friday. The following afternoon at Fakenham it was the turn of the former George Stewart-trained Step Back to record his first success over fences. The eight-year-old, who is now in the care of Mark Bradstock, won three times between the flags in this country, in each instance being partnered by Mark O’Hare. He is by Native River’s sire Indian River out of a Roselier mare.