THE period under review was particularly rewarding for Castlederg native Simon Torrens who rode three winners during that timeframe: two at Galway and one at Sligo.

The second of Torrens’ winners at the western festival meeting was the Ray Hackett-trained Nibblers Charm who landed Friday evening’s extended two-mile Guinness Galway Two Tribes Handicap Hurdle by 12 lengths.

This was a fourth success, and the third over hurdles, for the seven-year-old Court Cave gelding who was bred in Ardglass by John Magee and is the last of just three foals out of Lady Farina. That 2005 Zagreb mare was a half-sister to Toofarback whose four wins included a Grade 2 hurdle at Naas. This is the family of Egypt Mill Prince.

Magee and his brother Kieran, who sell under Chapeltown House, have a full-sister to Lady Farina named Back To Pharina and are breeding out of the unraced but well-bred Shannon Waters, a Flemensfirth own-sister to Shannon Bridge. Shannon Waters has had three foals to date, all colts, by Califet (2018 and 2019) and Mount Nelson (2020).

Also among their mares is the unraced Lady Kadina (by Arcadio), who had a filly foal this year by Califet, and Scent With Love (by Winged Love) who had a colt foal by Mount Nelson. Scent With Love’s fourth foal, Willyouwalkwithme (by Morozov), is in training with Ballyclare’s Harry Smyth and was among the declarations for the Randox Health Handicap Hurdle at Downpatrick tomorrow.

Delighted

“We were delighted to see Nibblers Charm win at Galway,” said John. “The horse won his bumper second time out (at Listowel in 2018) but Ray has taken his time with him. I heard Ray being interviewed after the race on Friday and he hopes to bring Nibblers Charm to the November meeting at Cheltenham.”

Strandhill, Co Sligo trainer Mark McNiff saddled his third winner in the same time period when Mr Moondance won the two-mile, two-furlong handicap hurdle at his local track. Also on the mark here on the training front was James Lambe who saddled Orla Cleary-O’Kane’s Misty Mountain to win the opening mares’ maiden hurdle. The Lemon Drop Kid six-year-old was ridden by Lambe’s stepson, Liam McKenna, who made all the running on the grey.

There were other northern trainers and jockeys who visited the winner’s enclosure in the past eight days but one person who didn’t, as owners are still not allowed on Irish racecourses, is Pat Sloan whose admirable Shantou gelding, The Storyteller, landed the extended two-mile, six-furlong Arthur Guinness Chase at Galway last Friday evening.

Trained by Gordon Ellliott, the nine-year-old had been pulled-up early by Davy Russell following mistakes in the Galway Plate two days previously. With Russell on the sidelines, Keith Donoghue came in for the ride on Friday and The Storyteller won comfortably by nine and a half lengths and seven and a half lengths from Sub Lieutenant and the 3/1 favourite, Livelovelaugh.