THE Gerry McPolin-bred Equus Dreamer got off the mark on his second start over timber when landing a long distance maiden hurdle at Hereford on Wednesday.

After a break of 620 days, and a change of stables, the Getaway six-year-old had returned to action at Taunton in late December when, on his first start for his present handler Kim Bailey, he had finished third of 14 over a trip of two-miles, three-furlongs.

Back in the spring of 2019, Equus Dreamer had run in three British point-to-point maidens, finishing third first time out at Barbury and then second at both Siddington and Chaddesley Corbett. He was then in the care of Shropshire-based Willie Bryan who had given €10,000 for the chesnut as a foal at the 2015 Tattersalls November National Hunt Sale to which he was consigned by Hillcrest Stables.

Equus Dreamer is the first foal, and only named produce to date, out of the unraced Presenting mare Thornleigh Blossom, who comes from the family of Killultagh Storm, Killultagh Vic, etc. Wednesday’s winner was followed by two colts by Yeats (2016 and 2017) and then two more foals by Getaway, a 2018 filly and a 2020 colt.

Breen winner

Also on Wednesday, but this time at Dundalk, Ahundrednotout (11/1) won on his second start for Warrenpoint trainer Leanne Breen when he got up close home under Shane Cross to score by a neck in the six-furlong handicap from the Natalia Lupini-trained favourite, Annabelle Rock (11/4).

The successful seven-year-old Mount Nelson gelding, whose three previous wins came when in the care of James Feane (the last being at the same venue in November 2018), now runs in the colours of Kildare’s Patrick Gallagher, an extremely lucky first-time owner.

Getting Breen off the mark for 2021, Ahundrednotout may run over seven furlongs at Dundalk next Friday evening.

A northern owner on the mark at the Co Louth track on Wednesday was Paul Rooney whose Michael Halford-trained Spelga brought up a double for jockey Colin Keane in division two of the extended 10-furlong handicap. This was a fourth career success, all on the Polytrack at Dundalk Stadium, for the five-year-old Sir Percy gelding.