COMBER owner/breeder Elizabeth ‘Hammy’ Hamilton considered herself to be doubly fortunate on Saturday at Toomebridge, especially after the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee’s announcement on Tuesday that owners would once again be banned from attending point-to-points.

“I was lucky that I was able to attend during that short time owners were permitted to go to meetings and then lucky that she won,” said Hamilton in reference to her Stuart Crawford-trained Sketrick who, under the handler’s brother Ben, landed the JCB five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden by five lengths following a lengthy absence from action.

Now seven, the Milan bay last ran in late 2018, first finishing fourth at Loughanmore in November and then third at Tattersalls the following month. The previous spring, she had finished third twice in three starts. “I had a lot going on at the time and had other commitments,” said the owner.

“In hindsight, I probably should have kicked on with her but that’s the way things are. She’s nicely bred being out being of a Bob Back half-sister to Mendip Express and Sheer Genius from the family of Fiddling The Facts.”

Small money

At Tattersalls Ireland’s August National Hunt Sale, a three-year-old Getaway half-brother to Sketrick was knocked down for €5,500 to Aidan Fitzgerald’s Cobajay Stables. “It was small money but, then again, he wasn’t very big,” commented Hamilton who consigned the gelding under the banner of Brentford Farm which she runs with partner David Mitchell.

“He’s a very nice horse but only 16hh which is a bit small for today’s market. However, he’s gone to a good trainer so hopefully he’ll get a chance.”

With few suitable races on the horizon, Crawford has entered Sketrick for today’s Gortnamoney Farm mares’ winners of two at Moira where she will face a maximum of six rivals and in the absence of Hamilton.

Newcomer

One other Northern handler, the meeting’s starter Rodney Arthur, managed to halt the run of Wexford trainers at Toomebridge when saddling Duty Calls to land the Tattersalls Ireland winners of one in the hands of Brian Lawless. Arthur’s charge, a seven-year-old Arcadio gelding, had fallen on his last start, in a hunters’ chase at Down Royal on St Patrick’s Day, just as the Covid-19 restrictions came in, so it was good to see him none the worse for that spill.

The colours of Co Monaghan owner Leo McArdle were carried to success in the opening Wilsons Auctions four-year-old mares’ maiden by the Colin Bowe-trained newcomer Branson Missouri, a daughter of Fame And Glory.

Whatever satisfaction connections of the winner gained when the result was confirmed was nothing like the disappointment endured by owner/trainer Graham McKeever whose Rocked Up had passed the winning post 10 lengths in front but was disqualified having gone the wrong side of a doll.

The Westerner mare had unseated her rider at the first on her only previous start at Ballingarry last month so is well due a change of fortune.