THE Ormond Foxhounds returned to Ballingarry on Saturday to stage the opening leg of their two-day fixture and, as glorious sunshine shone across the Tipperary venue, it was 19-year-old local rider Scott Kenny who made hay by registering a first career winner aboard the Enda Bolger-owned and trained In Excelsis Deo (4/5 – 9/10 favourite) in the open.

Having tracked leader Focus Point for much of the contest, Kenny allowed the eight-year-old son of Saddex to jump into the lead at the penultimate fence and, from there, he was not for catching.

Runner-up Act Of God threw down a challenge before the turn for home but was outstayed by In Excelsis Deo. There was a warm reception in the winner’s enclosure for the young rider, whose family and friends gathered to celebrate the landmark success.

“Scott rides out for Enda Bolger and Philip Fenton and would love to establish himself as an amateur jockey,” commented his father, Graham. “It’s unbelievable to see him ride his first winner here as we’re only from a mile up the road.

“We’d like to thank Enda for all his support and Scott will approach next season with great confidence now.”

Byrne enjoys success

Another young rider to enjoy success on the afternoon was Cormac Byrne, who partnered the Donnchadh Doyle-trained Gatherthe Facts (6/4 joint-favourite) to a four-length victory in the concluding winners’ of one for novice riders.

The grey son of Jukebox Jury was the only maiden in the six-runner field. Held up in the early stages, the five-year-old travelled strongly into contention on the final circuit, with the familiar colours of Monbeg Syndicate catching the eye from two out.

He stayed on best in the closing stages to outstay the more experienced Roman Parish who filled the runner-up spot.

“Cormac is after having a great season,” said Sean Doyle, representing his brother. “Donnchadh ran him in this race for Cormac, and that result seals victory in the JT McNamara Qualified Riders Series for him. The winner will be sold on now.”

Cotter in command

The race to be crowned Under-21 champion rider has intensified with Shane Cotter strengthening his title ambitions when teaming up with handler Thomas Byrne to land the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden aboard Sam Smoke (8/1).

The daughter of Scorpion overturned some more fancied rivals by showing marked improvement on her two previous starts this spring.

Cotter produced the mare with a well-timed challenge, making steady progress approaching the penultimate fence before staying on best from the last to repel the late challenge of debutante Poster Lady by three-parts of a length.

Winning owner Adam Busher was understandably delighted afterwards. “I bought her as a foal in Tattersalls, and she was relatively inexpensive,” he said.

“She showed plenty of improvement and I’d probably put it down to the better ground.

“Thomas is actually up in Fermanagh playing football today, so he’ll be happy when he gets my phone call.”

SAM Curling created his own piece of history in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden when saddling Back To Sea (2/1 – 7/4 favourite) to provide the Skehanagh maestro with a 47th winner of the season, equalling Robert Tyner’s long-standing record for the most winners trained by a handler in a single campaign, set in 2009.

This season’s leading rider, Derek O’Connor was quickly into stride aboard the homebred son of Affinisea and made virtually all of the running in the colours of Kilkenny owner Margaret Cahill.

Jumping and travelling fluently throughout, Back To Sea cruised to a comfortable eight-length success over Coreopsis, who stayed on well to fill the runner-up spot. “It’s mighty to equal the record. It’s been an unbelievable season,” remarked Curling afterwards.

“In fairness to the hunt, they have done a ferocious job with the ground here - it’s beautiful. He’s a nice horse and was going to win the last day, but was unlucky to overjump the last and come down.”

Bright future for Billy

O’Connor was also among the winners as a handler earlier on the card when sending out his wife Carol’s Beluga Lagoon (5/1) to land the four-year-old auction maiden under Billy Coonan.

Having made his debut just six days earlier at Loughrea, the son of Valirann benefitted from a change of tactics, with Coonan adopting a more prominent position throughout.

The €10,000 Goffs Arkle Sale graduate travelled smoothly and stayed on gamely in the closing stages to defeat debutant Sea Memories by a length and a half. “Billy gave him a good ride and judged the pace perfectly,” said O’Connor.

“Billy has been with me for three years now and works as hard as anyone. He comes in every morning during the winter and does his college work in the evening, and he’s passed all his exams. He has a bright future ahead of him.”

A FIELD of 14 went to post for the five-year-old mares’ maiden and, in a race run at a strong gallop throughout, it was the Willie Murphy-owned and trained Dolly Burrin (5/2 - 3/1 favourite) who made amends for pulling up on debut at Curraghmore by making virtually all under Pa King.

The daughter of Maxios jumped accurately from the front before being driven out on the run-in to record a two-and-a-half-length success over Hello Below, who was filling the runner-up spot for the second time in six days.

“I think she’s a very good mare,” revealed Murphy. “She’d have won on debut at Curraghmore only for oilseed rape stopped her that day — it’s grown locally to me. I want to give Francis Flood a special word of thanks. They’ve let me in there to work the horses, and it’s very much appreciated.”

Horse to follow

Coreopsis (P. Power): Improved from a fourth-placed debut at Ballysteen and ran an excellent race to fill the runner-up spot on this occasion. Based on this evidence, the bay son of Youmzain should not need to find much more improvement to shed his maiden tag in the autumn, provided he is not sold in the interim.