ALL roads led to Castletown-Geoghegan on Saturday for the rescheduled Westmeath Foxhounds fixture, one postponed from six days earlier.

There was some competitive fare at the midlands circuit and Jack Doyle dominated proceedings by recording his initial point success as a handler before going on to saddle a two-timer.

It was the admirable Lifetime Ambition (4/5) that completed the Tipperary-based operator’s double in the novice riders’ open.

Lifetime Ambition, a former Grade 1-placed chaser for Jessica Harrington, has really blossomed since joining the Holycross stable in the autumn of 2023 to revert to the pointing ranks, and he recorded an eighth success between the flags here.

The son of Kapgarde took the eight runners along with first-time partner James Sampson, giving a superb display of fencing.

Lifetime Ambition was almost joined by runner-up Dreal Deal approaching the final of the 15 obstacles and, whilst the latter secured marginally the faster jump here, he couldn’t quite cope with the eventual winner as the line approached with a neck separating the pair.

Sampson, a 19-year-old who hails from Shinrone, has been based with handler Doyle for the past three months, and the teenager was recording a third career success here.

Doyle remarked of Lifetime Ambition, now representing Timmy O’Byrne of The Lodge Stud in Kilmacthomas: “He’s a great horse to have and will probably stick to opens, although he could maybe run in a hunters’ chase later towards the end of the season. He will now run at Tattersalls in two weeks’ time.”

First success

Jack Doyle, on the mark with No Mon No Fun in a Ballinrobe maiden hurdle in July, celebrated his initial points success courtesy of Endless Drinking (11/10) in the four-year-old maiden.

Endless Drinking, having made a most satisfactory career debut by finishing sixth at Tullaherin last seasont, likewise was bounced out in front, and Adam Ryan’s mount disputed the running with Back In Park until the latter touched down in front at the third last.

Back In Park then led until the victorious son of Affinisea, a €42,000 Derby sale purchase by Aubrey McMahon, fought back approaching the final fence.

Endless Drinking secured another outstanding leap here to land in front, and asserted inside the final 75 yards to dismiss Back In Park by two lengths.

“He’s a horse that we’ve always liked, and Adam thinks that the track here was plenty sharp for him,” said handler Doyle of the Carsena Bloodstock Ltd-owned bay.

BRIAN Dunleavy was the only rider to record a double with the Corkonian completing his brace aboard the Caroline McCaldin-trained Salvadorhill (4/1) in the five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Salvadorhill, having pulled up on his only previous outing at Tattersalls in April, was another to benefit from being ridden on the pace.

The son of El Salvador disputed with runner-up The Real Diego until Sean Osborne’s charge edged ahead two out.

The Down raider came back with a renewed effort approaching the last and surged to the front on the flat to score by three-quarters of a length.

McCaldin suggested that her father Wilson Dennison’s Salvadorhill, a €17,000 foal purchase by Ian Ferguson who is closely related to dual Grade 1 winner Black Op, will now be sold.

Dunleavy was earlier on the mark aboard the ‘Scobie’ Fitzgerald-trained Foreveradiva (5/2), who dead-heated with Colin Bowe’s Silverado Blue (2/1), the mount of Bertie Finn, in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.

Ding-dong tussle

Silverado Blue and Foreveradiva were engaged in a ding-dong tussle from two out.

Foreveradiva held the call when losing some momentum on landing over the final fence and Silverado Blue then fought back to join issue in the closing stages, the pair returning six lengths clear of the long-time leader Buddy And Me in third.

Forveradiva, sporting the Cobajay Syndicate silks, is a half-sister to two blacktype-placed performers in Severano and Fire Flyer.

The Milestone Bloodstock Ltd-owned Silverado Blue is an early June foal whose Old Vic-sired dam Beluckyagain was placed second in a Grade 1 mares’ novice hurdle at Fairyhouse.

JAMIE Scallan will seldom ride an easier winner than he did aboard Sean Doyle’s Bedtime Bob (evens) in the winners’ of two.

The five-year-old gelding, the only maiden in the four-runner field, always travelled sweetly, jumping into the lead past the pace-setting City Slippers over the third last.

Always in command thereafter, the Henry Chamney-owned son of Jet Away returned with 11 lengths in hand over City Slippers.

Bedtime Bob, a €25,000 Goffs Arkle sale graduate, will probably now contest the point-to-point bumper at Fairyhouse next month.

Pacheco bags a bonus

Pacheco (5/2) attained due reward for his four runner-up efforts last season by destroying the opposition under handler Mick Goff’s son Harry in the six-year-old and upwards maiden, a race that also came complete with an INHSC bonus of €800 to winning owners’ Tom Power and Annette Lawlor.

Pacheco always took the eye in running and drew clear before two out to contain fellow ex-track performer Derby Rock by nine lengths.

The six-year-old Pacheco will now take his chance in a winners’ event.

Horse to Follow

Icon Island (D. O’Connor): This Vadamos-sired newcomer made his way into contention from three out and was two lengths adrift of the front pair in third when falling at the final fence, holding placed prospects at the time. The mid-May foal should make his presence felt over intermediate trips on the track.