THE John Murphy-trained newcomer The Old Head lit up Saturday’s Duhallow-Kanturk meeting in Dromahane by spreadeagling the opposition in the first division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The Old Head (2/1 - 5/2 joint-favourite) was held up towards the rear of mid-division as Wise Man was the one primarily responsible for the generous pace in what was the fastest-run race of the day.

The winning son of Walk In The Park edged ever closer for Johnny Barry after the fourth last of the 13 obstacles, coming through to lead on the outer two out.

It was clear that the bay, a €40,000 Derby sale graduate was possessing too many aces for his rivals thereafter as he surged clear to beat the always-prominent Debrave Soldier by six lengths in the style of a considerably better than average sort.

“We seem to have a lovely bunch of horses at the moment. Johnny [Barry] said that he was very green when he hit the front. He’s a horse with a big future, and he will now be sold,” Murphy said of the Highfort Partnership 2-owned The Old Head, his third individual four-year-old maiden winner in as many weeks.

Barry shines with brace

Johnny Barry was the only rider to depart with two winners, signing off aboard Fermoy-based owner/trainer Pat Crowley’s Dempseys Diamond (2/1 - 5/2) in the unplaced maiden.

Dempseys Diamond was always positioned close to the pace on the outer and picked up the running with three fences remaining en route to accounting for the mare Moonshine River, who did well to survive a fifth last fence error, by four lengths.

“We might sell him, if not he will run again. We always thought that he was a nice horse and it was a shame that he fell five out on his first run at Ballynoe in the spring,” said long-standing points supporter Crowley’s son Ferghal.

Coffey continues hot form

James Coffey is experiencing a terrific run and the Midleton amateur made his initial mount for handler Paul Pierce a winning one aboard the long-absent Sworn Duty (5/2 - 3/1 co-favourite) in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Sworn Duty moved closer from four out and hit the front approaching the second-last. The Getaway-sired €21,000 graduate of the 2023 Tattersalls Ireland May sale then stayed on to account for ex-track performer Twoplustwo Equals by two lengths in the colours of the Blackhall Stables Partnership.

There was a most unusual one-two in this contest as Sworn Duty was bred by the late Jerry Russell from Youghal whilst it’s his former Cheltenham Gold Cup and Aintree Grand National winning jockey son Davy who is the breeder of Twoplustwo Equals.

HAVING run out on the bend before the third-last when still bowling along merrily in the lead at Turtulla last month, Burds Of A Feather (5/2 - 3/1) attained a deserved turn under her handler Gerry Kelleher’s nephew Luke Kelleher in the four-year-old mares’ maiden.

Burds Of A Feather set off at the head of affairs and mostly held a commanding advantage until this was whittled down by the strong-travelling Even Tho before three out.

Even Tho moved through to join issue with the long-time leader from this third-last fence and she edged ahead seemingly travelling the better from the penultimate obstacle.

Even Tho held a two-length advantage when falling at the last as the winning daughter of Westerner then rose her effort by surging clear on the flat to dismiss The Ocean Queen by 11 lengths.

Burds Of A Feather represents her 24-year-old rider’s elder sister Lucy Kelleher who shares her with fiancé Joe Burke.

Back with a bang

Maiori (3/1 - 4/1) justified the trek from handler Joe Ryan’s east Clare base by coming home as he pleased on his return to action in the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The French-bred Maiori made eye-catching progress for Jimmy O’Rourke from four out and he swept to the front approaching the last to beat last month’s Turtulla runner-up Rongoright by an eased-down 18 lengths. Maiori, owned by Ryan’s son Josh, was quickly added to last night’s Cheltenham sale.

The Richard Rath-trained Call Of Freedom (5/2 - 3/1 favourite), owned by the Tom Bennett and Niall Heffernan Partnership, similarly booked his ticket to the Prestbury Park auction by returning to the coveted number one slot in the first division of this same race.

The son of Milan stormed clear from two out to dismiss Friendly Foe by an unchallenged 12 and a half lengths in the hands of Jamie Scallan.

THE Ian McCarthy-trained Hearts And Spades (4/5 - 11/10 favourite) maintained his unbeaten record in points this autumn by coming out best in a gripping finish to the winners-of-two, much to the dismay of the 10 bookmakers present.

The six-year-old two-time winner stylishly made his way into contention with regular partner Eoin Mahon inside the final half-mile and he picked up the running after two out.

Runner-up Dromleigh hadn’t read the script, however, and he moved to the front after the last only for the winning French-bred to surge back to the fore under 100 yards out to score by a head.

Handler McCarthy indicated that his wife Nicki’s Hearts And Spades could now contest the Limerick hunters chase over Christmas.

Jonathan Fogarty and Barry Stone continued their fine run of form by combining to collect the second division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden with newcomer Super Junior (2/1 - 5/2).

The Getaway gelding led or disputed the running virtually throughout until asserting from before three out to dispose of Cascando by five lengths in the increasingly familiar Gaynestown Stud Partnership silks.

Horse to follow

Even Tho (P. M. J. Doyle): This newcomer by Crystal Ocean was sent off favourite in the four-year-old mares’ maiden and was holding a two-length advantage when cruelly falling at the last.