THERE was some stellar fare at Sunday’s Waterford Foxhounds meeting at Curraghmore with owner/trainer Robert Tector’s El Jacko (5/2) hinting at a bright track career by annihilating the opposition on his return to action in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

El Jacko, having made a pleasing debut by finishing third to Wordfromhome on his only previous outing at Monksgrange last term, was held up at the rear of the eight-runner field and had yet to pass a horse after the fourth last of the 13 obstacles.

The son of El Salvador moved past two rivals on the run to three out. He seized the race by the scruff of the neck, storming to the front after this third-last fence.

It was all plain sailing from two out as the bay stormed clear for Jack Hendrick to beat Doc Callaghan by an increasing nine lengths.

“He’s a horse that was bred by a neighbour of ours, Dan Quigley, who lives just a mile away from us at home,” disclosed Tector.

“He has matured a lot this season and the plan was to put him to sleep so that he could use his turn of foot. “

Off to a good start

Adam Feeney made his initial mount of the season a winning one by combining with owner/trainer Roisin Hickey to collect the five-year-old geldings’ maiden aboard Barlogue (3/1).

Barlogue and Frost Pocket vied for supremacy up front until Buxerolles swept past before two out. Barlogue was alive to the move and he narrowly regained the initiative after this penultimate fence en-route to asserting in the closing stages to dismiss Buxerolles by three-parts of a length.

Hickey’s husband Thomond O’Mara reported of the Soldier Of Fortune-sired Barlogue: “He’s a horse that we’ve always liked and he battled well from the second last. The galloping track here suited and he’ll now be sold. “

Eile utilises experience

Former track performer Liss Eile (10/1) put her vast experience to good use by making a winning points debut under handler Garrett Ahern’s son Josh in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden. Liss Eile improved into second behind the front-running Follow Markava after two out, with the latter appearing the most likely winner coming to the last.

Follow Markava, however, forfeited her chance by leaping noticeably out to the left and Liss Eile seized the opportunity, surging to the front in the closing stages to dismiss Willie Murphy’s charge by a length.

This victory was a particularly sweet one for the younger Ahern as he owns the daughter of Order Of St George in partnership with Gerard Gubbins from Bartlemy, who was away on a cruise in Rome.

THE Donnchadh Doyle-trained Monbeg Park (3/1) provided further credence to the accepted maxim ‘once a good horse, always a good horse’ by making a victorious points return in the open.

Monbeg Park, a former 149-rated chaser that won a €45,000 Leopardstown handicap chase in March 2025, always travelled sweetly for Alan Harney as Pat Coyne took the nine runners along.

Harry De Ongrais moved to the head of affairs before two out, but Monbeg Park was edging closer, and came through to challenge approaching the last.

Monbeg Park then quickened to lead inside the final 50 yards to thwart Harry De Ongrais by a half-length in what was the afternoon’s closest finisht.

Harney, hailing from nearby Kilmacow, will have attained immense satisfaction from this victory as it was his final one as a 5lbs claimer.

Monbeg Park, representing the Monbeg Syndicate, will be kept to opens this season for Harney to ride.

THE Gary Murphy success story continued in the four-year-old mares’ maiden as the south Wexford-based operator struck with newcomer Verdict Is In (6/4), his fourth individual four-year-old winner of the season so far.

The Jukebox Jury-sired grey made smooth progress for Shane O’Rourke to assume command before two out.

There was only going to be one outcome thereafter, but what was really striking was the blistering turn of foot that Verdict Is In unleashed before the last to carry her some eight and a half lengths clear of fellow debutant Travail D’Amour.

“She just could be different gravy,” was the succinct comment from handler Murphy of the Turbine Syndicate-owned Verdict Is In, led out unsold for €28,000 at last year’s Derby sale.

Byrne off the mark

Kilconnell, Galway owner/trainer Mark Byrne was credited with an initial success as a handler courtesy of Colvin (5/1) in the winners’ of one.

In a most eventful contest, Stan Wellback appeared to be travelling best with a three-length advantage on the run to the last having jumped impeccably throughout.

Stan Wellback, however, came to grief here and badly hampered the pursuing Roman Parish, who then unseated. Colvin, in the region of five lengths adrift in third spot, was then left clear to finish alone in the hands of Nicole Lockhead Anderson.

Colvin, a Loughanmore maiden victor last October for Stuart Crawford, will now contest another winners’ event with Ms Lockhead Anderson in the plate.

Horse to follow

Buxerolles (D. Doyle): This French-bred, having pulled up when well touted on his only previous outing at Dromahane in late April, picked up the running, travelling well on the run to two out in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. Whilst beaten less than a length into second by the more experienced Barlogue, he fits the profile of a horse that should prosper over shorter distances on the racetrack.