DEFYING odds of 40/1, the Sue Gardner-trained, Lucy Gardner-ridden Lightonthewing landed the 19-runner extended two-mile, five-furlong handicap hurdle at Wincanton last Saturday.

The six-year-old Winged Love gelding, who was recording his first success on his ninth attempt, was bred in Co Down by Patricia Doran.

He is the first of just three recorded produce out of the unraced Generous mare Neat ‘n Nimble, an own-sister to Drop Out Joe and from the family of La Landiere, Lough Derg, etc.

On Monday evening at Wolverhampton, the Thomas Foy-bred Enaitchess got off the mark on her seventh attempt when winning the six-furlong handicap for the David Loughnane yard.

The three-year-old Elzaam filly is the latest of three winners out of the twice-placed Diktat mare Cute (a half-sister to Arabian Gleam (by Kyllachy)) being preceded by the six-time winner Birds Of Prey (by Sir Prancealot) and the four-time scorer Pogo (by Zebedee).

Back to the jumps and on Wednesday racing at Doncaster opened with the Alastair Ralph-trained Osprey Call winning the extended two-mile novices’ hurdle on the second of two starts over timber. The Winged Love six-year-old is the first of just three recoded produce out of the hurdle-winning Witness Box mare Courting Whitney, a sister to four other winners from the family of Stephanie Frances, etc.

The brown gelding was bred in Co Down by George McCullough who sold him to Paul Ferguson either side of Christmas 2015. Through Hillcrest Stables, Paul consigned Osprey Call to the 2018 August Sale at Tattersalls where he was purchased for just €5,000 by English trainer Noel Williams for whom he won a bumper first time out on the all-weather at Lingfield in November 2019. He had only one other run for Williams before being sold to Ralph for £31,000 at Goffs UK’s September Sale last year.

While there have been plenty of winners recently who were purchased by northern agents Harold Kirk and Kevin Ross Bloodstock, Downpatrick’s Richard Curran was mentioned this week by in-form England-based trainer Fergal O’Brien following the retirement of Perfect Candidate.

Pulled up on his 45th start at Haydock last Saturday, the 14-year-old Winged Love gelding, who was bred by Hugh Suffern, retires as the winner of nine races.

Eight of those wins came over fences including a handicap over an extended three miles, four furlongs on heavy ground at Haydock in November which was his last appearance before Saturday.