EOIN Mahon was one of two riders to register a double at Bellharbour, with the local rider first on the scoreboard when Luxor Love (4/1 - 3/1) won well in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden for a fellow local in owner and handler John Staunton.
The son of Walzertakt stepped forward significantly from his debut at Curraghmore last April, where he failed to complete. Out of a half-sister to the prolific winner Great Love, this gelding travelled and jumped with intent from the front and never saw a rival.
The pair started to up the tempo three fences from home and galloped on strongly to register a seven-length victory from the previously-placed Simonsberg.
“He was a sick horse last year, and we shouldn’t have run him,” remarked Staunton. “We always liked this horse, and his work is top-notch at home. We targeted this race as it’s our local track. He will be for sale now.”
Tapping into potential
Mahon doubled his tally for the day by later combining with Stuart Crawford’s Untapped Potential (5/1 - 3/1) in the older geldings’ maiden.
The long journey from the Antrim handler’s Larne base proved worthwhile as the thorough stayer ran out the easiest winner on the card in the finale. He clearly improved after a third-place finish at Ballindenisk in November, having fallen at Rathcannon on debut prior to that.
The son of Conduit tracked the pace-setters early on before moving to the front on his way to the third fence from home. He looked full of running turning into the straight before powering clear of Charles The Bold effortlessly to win by 25 lengths for owner Inge D’haese.
“We were expecting to win here after a lovely run in Ballindenisk,” commented Crawford. “Our vet Inge owns him, so it’s great. He is a home-bred too, and he will go to the sales.”
THE Ian Donoghue-trained Code Name Cubitt (5/2 - 4/1), a full-brother to Grade 1 winner Brandy Love, showed the benefit of his two previous academy hurdle outings for Gavin Cromwell back in November.
The Ballymaglassan Farm Partnership-owned son of Jet Away made virtually all under Joey Dunne in the first four-year-old maiden of 2026. They began to stretch the field from three out and extended their lead to five lengths early in the home straight.
However, a good jump was needed at the final fence to hold off the fast-finishing favourite Youcancountonme by just a length at the line.
“He had experience so we put it to good use,” said winning rider Dunne. “His jumping was great today. The plan was to kick on from the third last. He will be for sale now.”
Don’t stop Believing
Born Believing (5/1 - 6/1), a home-bred daughter of Court Cave for Claire O’Connell that carries the colours of her husband Paul O’Sullivan, completed a double on the card for Joey Dunne in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.
The newcomer travelled and fenced well close to the pace before going on after the penultimate fence in this. He popped the last well to seal a two-and-a-half-length victory over Poliath.
“We’re delighted especially because she is a home-bred,” said a delighted O’Connell. “This is the fifth winner out of the mare, and Born Braver is a full-brother. She will probably go for sale now. We have to thank everyone for the condition of the track here today.”
THE prolific winner The Great Unknown (5/4 - 1/1 favourite) was a gutsy victor of the open for handler Sam Curling and owner Adelia Greer. In a race where the lead changed on a few occasions, the market leader was on top when it mattered most.
She had plenty to do turning for home, before being galvanised by Derek O’Connor as the challengers arrived. The daughter of Walk In The Park kept on strongly after the last to score by two-and-a-half lengths from Asian Master.
“She’s great and just does enough. Derek knows her well and gave her a great ride” reflected Curling. “We will go to Ballycahane and then the Foxhunters at Cheltenham.”
It was a Bellharbour double and an across-the-card treble for Curling as Sharp As Glass (6/4 favourite) scored impressively under Rob James in the winner-of-one.
Big leap
The son of Arctic Cosmos, a maiden winner at Turtulla in November, was close to the pace throughout, before a big leap left him in front on the outside four fences from the finish.
His rider kept him up to his work all the way up the straight, and he responded generously, pulling clear of Johnny K to score by a comfortable nine lengths in the colours of Gillian Burke.
“He ran well in Turtulla and keeps improving away,” reported the championship leader Curling. “Rob gave him a great ride, as he is a bit headstrong. The plan is the winners-of-two race in Oldtown.”
Horse to follow
Keeptheflagflying (D. O’Connor): The well-bred son of Walk In The Park is one for the notebook after a very encouraging run in the four-year-old maiden. He was given a patient ride throughout before making significant headway after jumping the second last. He was a fast-finishing third, only beaten a length and a half, and he doesn’t need to improve much to shed his maiden tag, and it will be difficult to oppose him next time.