THE second Ballinagore Harriers fixture at Ballycrystal this season belonged to Donnchadh Doyle, with the locally-based handler successful with all three of his representatives.

The dominant display of L’Aurige (1/1 - 9/10 favourite) in the concluding five-year-old and upwards confined maiden was arguably the highlight, with Rob James completing a brace on this €70,000 Goffs Arkle Sale purchase.

Jumping right at times when second at Tinahely in November, there were no such problems for the French-bred bay in this five-runner heat.

Kept towards the nearside rail and jumping efficiently throughout, he made all and shrugged aside the effort of newcomer Monty Leburne approaching three out, ultimately easing to a 35-length win.

“He got into a lovely rhythm, and I thought going out on the last lap that he was going very well,” the winning handler reflected.

“He is a lovely horse and it’s just taken him a little bit of time to come to himself. He had a nice-ish run the last day, but I was a little bit disappointed with him and the winner that day could just be a little bit freakish. He cost plenty of money and he’ll either go to a sale or a bumper now.”

Written in the stars

Doyle and James had earlier combined to take the five-year-old geldings’ maiden with Cosmic Connection (4/1 - 7/2), with this one, like all three of Doyle’s winners, carrying the Monbeg Syndicate silks.

While failing to make an impact on his first two starts, the Getaway bay was a different proposition in this 10-runner heat, benefiting from a patient James ride.

Ninth halfway and making good progress after four out, he shot to the front from the next and kept on well in the closing stages to beat Sky Grove by three lengths, with the pair drawing clear of the third.

“He was [disappointing] because he always worked very well. He ran a bit free the first day and that’s why we dropped him in today,” Doyle commented. “Rob said he picked up well today and he could go back in trip on the track.”

THE second part of Donnchadh Doyle’s three-timer coincided with the completion of a double for Brian Lawless.

The pair combined to take the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden with Got The Memo (1/1 - 6/4 favourite), a Getaway chesnut, who had finished a solid fourth on his debut at Boulta in November.

Given a patient ride, the €29,000 Goffs Arkle Sale graduate made good progress after four out and improved into third on the lengthy run to the next.

Getting to the front from the penultimate obstacle, he kept on well when ridden on the run-in, seeing off the effort of Gainsville by two and a half lengths, with the pair well clear of the rest.

“He ran okay the first day. I’d say he just wasn’t fit enough and we were minding him a bit,” Doyle revealed.

“He picked up well today, travelled a lot better and jumped well into the race. He came on plenty for the first run.

“He might go for a winners’ race now in a couple of weeks and Brian actually owns this lad with me.”

Successful debut

On what was a fruitful afternoon for Lawless, he initiated his brace on Johnny’s Belle (3/1 - 5/1), the only debutant in the line-up for the six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Training and doing the steering on this Malinas bay, the Wicklow native sent his mount to the front shortly after the penultimate obstacle and she stretched clear on the run-in to score by five-and-a-half lengths.

“She was very green when we got her and she was nearly unbroken at the start of last year,” Lawless, who trains the winner for his partner Abbie O’Connor, explained.

“She is after learning a lot in a short space of time and showed a good attitude today.

“She is a nice mare that is after getting going later in life and she’s for sale.”

EXTENDING his healthy advantage in the race to be crowned champion handler, Lord Desart (1/1 - 7/4 favourite) was the second part of a cross-card treble for Sam Curling, as he just prevailed in the six-runner winners-of-two.

While comfortably accounting for the reopposing Empire Soldier when successful at Tinahely eight days earlier, it was much closer between the pair on this occasion.

Locked together from two out, the Daniel Hyde-ridden victor gained a narrow advantage away from the last and maintained that lead in the closing stages, ultimately prevailing by a neck.

“We started quickening down the hill the last time and I just didn’t want to go too early. I knew he wouldn’t have lasted had I went on then,” Hyde, donning the silks of his grandmother Trish, explained.

“I waited until we jumped the third last and he has a bit of a kick. He stayed on strong today and it’s only a week since his last run.”

Six also lined up for the opening five-year-old mares’ maiden, with Colin Bowe’s Jukebox Bess (5/4 - 2/1 favourite) ultimately coming out on top.

One of three debutants to face the starter, the €14,000 Goffs Arkle Sale graduate improved to dispute the lead from three out and led before the next, keeping on well from there to beat the front-running Tintara by four lengths.

“She’s a lovely filly and the sire [Jukebox Jury] speaks for himself,” winning rider Barry O’Neill, donning the familiar black silks of Milestone Bloodstock Ltd, remarked.

“We loved her and she was good enough to win a four-year-old maiden but our horses were a bit sick, so we just gave her a little bit of time. She was a winner a long way out and gave me a great feel.”

Horse to follow

Sky Grove (D. P. Murphy): From a family that Joseph O’Brien has done well with, this Order Of St George bay stepped forward markedly from his debut effort at Peppards Castle. A battling second to Cosmic Connection, he drew 27 lengths clear of the third and, on this evidence, he should have little difficulty in making the breakthrough before the season is out.