SAM Curling is experiencing a phenomenal campaign and the current handlers’ championship leader combined with Derek O’Connor to record a two-timer at Sunday’s well-attended Killeagh Harriers fixture in Carrigarostig.

Wrappedupinmay (4/7 - 4/5 favourite) brought up the duo’s brace by annihilating the opposition in the open, facing just four rivals here.

Wrappedupinmay led or disputed the running on the outer with Bugs Moran until edging ahead well before the third last of the 15 obstacles.

It was all plain sailing from before two out, as the victorious eight-year-old was clearly possessing all the aces in front. He then swept further clear before the last to beat Macs Charm by 11 lengths.

Curling was delighted with the performance of the Ocovango-sired gelding, well bought by Tom Malone for £14,000 at last year’s Goffs UK spring sale in Doncaster, and bigger targets now beckon.

“He’s a proper horse that loves this soft ground. The plan now is that he will go straight to Cheltenham for the Foxhunters,” said the handler of Wrappedupinmay, owned by the Mayhem In March Syndicate.

Century of winners

O’Connor got off the mark for the afternoon by recording his 100th success for Curling aboard Kimai (evens favourite) in the five-year-old mares’ maiden.

Kimai, a more than creditable third on her only previous start, was bounced out smartly and she took the four-runner field along from the fourth fence with Galatrona always in her slipstream.

The sweet-jumping Kimai, an imposing bay by Walk In The Park that was purchased for €32,000 at last year’s Derby sale, asserted approaching two out and she then stylishly coasted clear to contain Galatrona by four and a half lengths in the style of one that we will be hearing a lot more about.

“She’s a lovely mare that got a slight cut in the autumn and that’s why she hasn’t run until now,” disclosed Curling of the winner

Kimai, representing Wonderwall’s owner John O’Leary, was quickly added to this evening’s Tattersalls Ireland sale after racing in Cheltenham.

THE Aidan Fitzgerald-trained Willow Tide (2/1 - 7/4 favourite) similarly booked his ticket for this evening’s Cheltenham sale by giving a breathtaking display of fencing with Troy Walsh to score in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Willow Tide was soon positioned at the head of affairs and he seemed to have a battle on his plate when joined at the second-last by runner-up Brother Walfrid.

The winning son of Crystal Ocean, a late May foal that’s a €10,000 Goffs Arkle sale acquisition, was however, already getting the better of the argument with Brother Walfrid when throwing the faster leap at the last.

He swept clear in the closing stages to dismiss Colin Motherway’s charge by three and a half lengths in the familiar Cobajay Syndicate silks.

Rapturous reception

Rebels Dream (evens - 5/4 favourite) returned to a rapturous reception on winning the older mares’ maiden for novice riders under her handler Alex Ott’s 20-year-old son Luke Burke Ott.

Rebels Dream mostly tracked Moonshine River until edging ahead with two fences remaining, however the triumphant grey then gave her supporters cause for alarm as she was noticeably slow at the final fence when appearing destined for a comfortable success.

Moonshine River wasn’t able to capitalise though and Rebels Dream still asserted inside the final 50 yards to thwart her by a comfortable length and three-quarters.

The six-year-old Rebels Dream is owned by the John and Darren Partnership, which comprises John Guerin and Darren Kealy from the Kanturk and Newmarket areas.

THE Eugene O’Sullivan-owned/trained Cool Consul (4/1 - 5/1) attained his due reward by landing the older geldings’ maiden, the race that attracted the biggest field of the afternoon in 11 runners.

Cool Consul always travelled well for Cal Shine. However, he didn’t aid his cause by blundering three out when in fifth spot at the time.

The winning British-bred still effortlessly assumed command before the last though, sweeping clear on the flat to dispose of The Rebel Fox by two and a half lengths. The six-year-old Cool Consul is now likely to be sold.

The Ross O’Sullivan-trained Dora D’or (5/2 - 3/1 joint-favourite), a dual points scorer last term, hinted that she is set for a fine season by making a triumphant return to action under Lee Shanahan in the mares’ winners-of-two.

The seven-year-old, who was only having a fourth career start, was held up as the maiden Nelly O forced the pace.

The eventual winner edged ever closer from after four out and came through to overtake Nelly O, who blundered three out, at the second last.

The winning daughter of Golden Lariat was always travelling marginally better thereafter and she fought off Nelly O from the last, the winning margin being two and a half lengths.

“I thought that she could be a bit short fitness-wise. She’s an old-fashioned, good-looking mare with a staying pedigree and she will be better on spring ground,” said O’Sullivan of Dora D’or, owned by Co Offaly-based Jameina Scarisbrick.

“She could go for a hunters chase later in the year, maybe the mares’ one at Cork over Easter.”

Horse to follow

Galatrona (C. Bowe): This newcomer by Harzand always shadowed the front-running Kimai in the five-year-old mares’ maiden until having no more to offer from two out when beaten four and a half lengths into second. This was still an outstanding effort.