THE Stuart Crawford yard was certainly in winning form last Saturday, brother Steven having his colours carried to victory in the Dennison Commercials four-year-old maiden at Loughbrickland by the newcomer Plan Of Attack, while there was a double at Navan for Our Valentina and Jimmy Breekie.

It was good to see the last-named get off the mark over hurdles, particularly following his narrow defeat at Naas last month when he went down by a neck to Never Off Duty. The seven-year-old Alkaadhem gelding, who won a bumper at Punchestown in November, was bred by his owner, Ian MacKenzie from Strabane, out of the Kotashaan mare Highland Breeze who he also bred.

Another northern trainer to saddle a winner on Saturday was Noel Kelly whose Mash Potato landed the second division of the two-mile handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter in the colours of Kelly’s mother, Christina. This was a first win for the seven-year-old Whipper gelding since he joined the Draperstown yard for a jumping career having previously been trained by Michael Dods for whom he won three times on the flat.

There were two interesting winners last Thursday week at Taunton where the Paul Nicholls-trained Touch Kick justified favouritism in the opening two-mile, three-furlong maiden hurdle and the Colin Tizzard-trained Valhalla landed the extended two-mile handicap hurdle.

PRESENTING

The six-year-old Presenting gelding Touch Kick, who won a bumper at Wincanton roughly 12 months ago, was bred by Aaron Metcalfe and is the fourth of six foals out of the French-bred mare Bay Pearl. Among others, he is a half-brother to the six-time point-to-point winner Repeat Business and a full-brother to Slate House who made £260,000 at Cheltenham in February having won a maiden at Tattersalls in November for Wilson Dennison and Ian Ferguson.

Valhalla, who was winning for the second time over timber on Thursday, was bred by Aaron’s sister. The seven-year-old Scorpion gelding is the first of five foals out of the King’s Theatre mare Fox Theatre, a half-sister to Sir OJ.

Writing about northern trainers and breeders, it was disappointing to note that not one of the 21 finalists announced for this year’s Irish Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards works in a stud or yard in Northern Ireland.