LAST season’s Group 1 scorer Millisle got back on the winning trail on Wednesday at Naas where the Jessica Harrington-trained chesnut landed the six-furlong Group 3 Yeomanstown Stud Ballyogan Stakes for fillies and mares in the hands of Shane Foley.

Carrying the colours of her Newtownards-based breeder, Stonethorn Stud Farm, the three-year-old Starspangledbanner filly defied her 5lb penalty to win comfortably on her fourth start of the season. Millisle is the last of 12 recorded foals out of her dam, Green Castle, but Harrington revealed on Wednesday that, having been retired since 2017, that Indian Ridge mare was back in foal to Starspangledbanner at the age of 23.

Very few northern-bred horses visited the winner’s enclosure in the period under review but one who did triumphed over jumps in Britain.

Fifth career victory

This was the Jeremy Maxwell-bred Tikkinthebox landed the two-mile handicap chase at Uttoxeter last Thursday week for the Jeremy Scott yard. The eight-year-old Tikkanen gelding, who was recording his fifth career victory (all over fences), is the 10th of 11 foals out of the French-bred Art Francais mare Surfing France.

On Tuesday evening in Perth, there was a training double for Co Antrim-born Neil Mulholland whose first successful charge, Lake Baikal in the two-mile handicap chase, was recording his first success on his sixth start in the colours of J.P. McManus.

From last Friday up to Wednesday, Neil sent out six winners in total, these victories coming on the flat as well as over jumps.

Armagh trainer Ronan McNally had all his raceday health screening compliances in order last Friday evening so was able to greet The Trigger, and jockey Sean Flanagan, following their victory in the three-mile, one-furlong handicap hurdle at Kilbeggan. This was a second win in-a-row for the 11-year-old Beneficial gelding whose previous victory had come over fences at Tipperary on the first day of the month. The chesnut, who won two point-to-points, now has five track victories to his credit.

Flat success

Templepatrick trainer/farrier Paul Traynor sent out partner Karen McNeilly’s Shumaker to win a division of the one-mile, five-furlong handicap at Ballinrobe on Monday evening under in-form 5lb-claimer, Joey Sheridan. This was a first success on the flat for the eight-year-old Whitmore’s Conn gelding who has also won a point-to-point and four hurdle races.

At the western track on Wednesday afternoon, the two-mile, six-furlong maiden hurdle for colts and geldings was won by the Phillip Enright-ridden William Of Wykeham. The five-year-old Arcano gelding, who is a half-brother to the Spectrum siblings Golan and Tartan Bearer and eight other winners, is trained in Co Sligo by Mark McNiff for Jeffrey Fox who lives in Dromahair, Co Leitrim.

Armagh owner-trainer Ronan McNally was on the mark at Limerick on Thursday evening with The Trigger, who won a three-mile handicap hurdle under resgular partner Sean Flanagan,

An 11-year-old by Beneficial, The Trigger has now won three times this month. His earlier successes came in a chase at Tipperary and a hurdle race at Kilbeggan,