CONVENIENTLY for Naomi Buchanan, Broughshane was on her way home from the event in Maddybenny last Saturday so she was able to call into the Mid-Antrim point-to-point and celebrate the victory of newcomer Ravenhill Road in the five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Initiating a quick double for trainer Stuart Crawford and his rider brother Ben, the impressive Exit To Nowhere gelding ran in the colours of Naomi’s father Alan, who can’t remember when he last had a winner between the flags, and was bred by her sister Jane, the US-based bloodstock agent.

The five-year-old is the first of five foals out of the 2001 Zaffaran mare Zaffarella who won four hurdle races for the extended Buchanan team when trained by Lucinda Russell.

The mare’s four-year-old, who is now in pre-training, is by Winged Love and he was followed by two geldings by Kalanisi. This year, Zaffarella had a filly foal by Jetaway.

“We have always loved Ralph (aka Ravenhill Road) and we would be shocked if he didn’t go on to much bigger things,” said Jane whose many hats include that of American agent for Goresbridge Sales. “He is a big, good-looking stamp of a horse and is an excellent jumper.

“The Crawfords, who are also good family friends, have done a great job with him. We still have the dam. She’s been very good to us as she seems to throw good-sized, pretty horses and nearly all colts. We are happy enough to sell for the right price as we know we have the other offspring. The mare was just bred to Califet last week,” concluded the breeder who has viewed a recording of Saturday’s race many times since.

Ravenhill Road’s next public appearance will be at Goffs UK’s Spring HIT Sale in Doncaster as Lot 363.

Ballylumford, who brought up the Crawford yard double at Broughshane in the adjacent hunts’ maiden, is also heading to the south Yorkshire sales ring as Lot 583.

Purchased by Stuart Crawford at the 2013 Goffs Land Rover Sale, the seven-year-old bay, who comes from the family of Vintage Crop, had his only previous start in a point-to-point at Largy last month following three runs over hurdles and two in bumpers.