ALEX Harvey’s first day riding with his claim reduced to 3lb saw him post a double in Downpatrick through Camlin Park and Our Zebo.

Camlin Park kicked things off in the opening A J C Group Maiden Hurdle when taking the honours by 12 lengths at 11/1, backed in from 20s. The five-year-old mare tracked the favourite and took over after the penultimate hurdle, going on to post a clear-cut success.

Trainer John McConnell, who also owns the mare with Niamh Harvey, said: “We thought she was a nice filly, but the Roscommon race was going to bring her on. She had never been in a field that size at that speed, so it brought her on a lot.

“She’s a nice filly and Alex’s mum is in on her. I wouldn’t be surprised if she is for sale - I’ll sell anything!”

Funky Zebo

Our Zebo arrived with form figures of ‘212’ at the northern venue and Noel Kelly’s charge further enhanced that when winning the Randox Handicap Hurdle by a length and three-quarters at 11/2 for John B O’Hagan.

Harvey began to work on him after four out and the six-year-old gelding kept finding gamely. He led on the run to the last and fended off Rockview Consort on the run-in.

Harvey said: “He is definitely (the model of consistency) - he’s a funky horse, he does save a bit for himself, but he has all the ability in the world and they are starting to get it out of him now.”

Jake Coen, on sixth-placed Ossifer Hops, picked up a four-day ban for riding carelessly.

SHARK and Paddy Hanlon also doubled up in the north when Person Of Interest (3/1 favourite) landed an incident-packed Downpatrick Racecourse Style Awards Handicap Steeplechase, in which no less than four horses unseated their riders.

The Durkans-owned five-year-old gelding raced towards the rear in the extended two-mile-and-three-furlong contest and progressed to third five out. He was left in the lead three from home and began to move clear approaching the last, powering up the hill to sail in by 12 lengths.

Trainer Hanlon said: “Paddy said just at the start he hesitated for a second. The plan was to make the running and the good thing about Paddy is, there is always a ‘Plan B’.

“He said he gave him a squeeze coming down the hill and he says he just took off. I think the world of this horse and he just has had little quirky problems. I have them ironed out.”

Sailed home

Stablemate Pahlavi came with a wet sail to lead on the line in the Ulster Carpets Handicap Hurdle over the extended two miles and one furlong.

He looked in trouble when pushed along after the penultimate flight, but began to make headway before the last. There was nothing finishing better than him, though, as Hanlon drove him home by a head at 15/2 from Silent Dawn.

On winning owners, the Shark Hanlon Racing Club, the trainer said: “They are a great crowd. It is a big syndicate we have and this year I went back to get money off some and some pulled out, but all this crowd stayed with me. I think there was 30 left there now, and there was 60 or 70.”

Out of luck

Gavin Cromwell’s Macinamillion (13/2) came with a well-timed challenged to deny the Hanlons’ Lakefield Flyer in the Drop, Lock & Leave Handicap Steeplechase.

The latter was some two lengths clear after the last, however, Keith Donoghue brought Macinamillion through to head him inside the final 100 yards, before going on to win by a length and a half for Oak Lodge Farm Ltd.

“My lad was in first-time cheekpieces and travelled a lot better,” Donoghue said. “I was able to fill him up for four out then and had one go up the hill, and luckily it worked out.”

GORDON Elliott secured a brace of winners on the card and it was Penny Perfect (15/2) who showed good improvement on her second start in the Randox Maiden Hurdle under Danny Gilligan.

Racing in mid-division, the Capri filly was left third and hampered when the leader Minella Supreme departed two out. Sent into the lead at the last, she readily drew clear to post a nine-and-a-half-length success in the colours of Mrs Cecilia. Magill.

“She took a big step forward from her first run here and the step up to two miles and five furlongs made all the difference, I think,” Gilligan said. “She is small, but she has a lot of heart which makes all the difference. She’s very genuine.”

Kevin Sexton did the steering on Elliott’s Speculatrix, who was an easy winner of the Miss Northern Ireland - Carly Wilson Beginners Steeplechase for Gigginstown House Stud.

This was her second start over fences and the 13/8 favourite soon tracked the leaders. She travelled well to hit the front three out and drew clear on the run-in to win as she pleased by eight and a half lengths.

Sexton said: “She jumped good - she was good and careful, to be fair, for a mare that can be a bit brave over hurdles. She had plenty of respect for fences.”