A TOTAL of 96 runners went to post across a competitive eight-race card, and Whenthesunshines (6/1) had to defeat 13 of them as she made a winning debut in the four-year-old mares’ maiden.

The daughter of Shirocco was given a patient ride in mid-division by Harry Swan and travelled strongly throughout. She began to make smooth headway from two-out before producing a well-timed challenge entering the straight.

A fluent leap at the final fence proved decisive, and she stayed on gamely to fend off the challenge of runner-up Beau Sumbal (5/1) by half-a-length. She is owned by The Day Dreamers Racing Syndicate, who previously enjoyed top-level success with Put The Kettle On.

Trainer Paul Power remarked: “She jumped brilliantly throughout, and I was delighted with her. She had a very quick jump at the last, which was the winning of it.

“She came well recommended from Gerry Hogan to the owners, and I’d say there is a good chance she could go into training with Henry de Bromhead next season.”

Power-packed win

The four-year-old geldings’ maiden attracted 24 declarations, forcing a divide. The opening division went to the Warren Ewing-owned and trained Power On Demand (5/1), who recorded the fastest time of the day.

The son of Jet Away had finished a respectable fifth on debut at Kirkistown in March and improved here. Always travelling prominently, the €30,000 Derby Sale graduate looked to have matters in hand before a slight mistake at the penultimate briefly cost him momentum.

Regained the lead

However, a brave ride down the inner by Dara McGill proved decisive, as he regained the lead and stayed on strongly to score by two lengths from Malbeck.

Sixteen runners lined up for the unplaced maiden, which was run at a strong tempo throughout. Uptoyourselves (10/1) came out on top for Sophie Carter and Sue O’Gorman.

The daughter of Walk In The Park, owned by Donal O’Gorman, was ridden positively and showed the benefit of a break following a pulled-up effort at Lisronagh.

She produced a strong late run to reel in the long-time leader and runner-up Mr Caulfield before pulling clear to score by two lengths.

THE second division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden saw Moltenblue (7/2) provide the first leg of a double for Denis Murphy and Shane Cotter. The son of Blue Bresil had fallen on debut at Tinahely but showed marked improvement here.

Always prominent, the €44,000 Goffs Arkle Sale graduate battled well to wear down the long-time leader and eventual runner-up Toca Poca, quickening smartly approaching the final obstacle to assert.

“He was very good there,” Bernice Murphy, daughter of the winning handler, said. “He probably was run too soon the first day, but we always loved him at home, and he’s come on leaps and bounds since then and will head to the sales now.”

Murphy and Cotter quickly doubled their tally as Johnjoes Lad (2/1 favourite) landed the opening division of the five-year-old geldings’ contest. A €10,000 Tattersalls acquisition, the son of Libertarian went one better than his previous effort at Tyrella.

Relishing the better ground, he travelled prominently throughout, jumped fluently, and asserted approaching the final obstacle before staying on strongly to score by five lengths from Lama Des Bambous. This double contributed to the in-form Denis Murphy’s five-timer across the weekend.

Impressive performance

The open contest produced one of the most visually impressive performances of the day, as Tumuch (4/1), trained and owned by Jamie Dwyer, made all under Tadgh Stafford.

The seven-year-old son of Buck’s Boum set a strong gallop from the outset and never saw another rival. He stretched the field from an early stage and powered clear to win by an emphatic 20 lengths from runner-up Clear The Clouds.

“I’m delighted with him,” Dwyer said. “He bounced out and loved it from the get-go, that was the plan, as we knew well he’d love that ground.

“There could be a ‘for sale’ sign if anyone was interested; he’d be a fun horse for someone. But we will go back to the drawing board; there are options with him if not sold, possibly another hunters’ chase.”

BRIAN Lawless was in double-winning form on the card, and the Wicklow native struck first in the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden aboard Two Grand Sweeney (4/1), for handler Mark Fahey and owner Gary Hannon.

The son of Crystal Ocean was having his first start since November and showed plenty of promise. He moved into contention before the penultimate fence and took command entering the straight, displaying a sharp turn of foot to win by a length-and-a-half from Staple Flight.

“He did that brilliantly,” Fahey commented. “Brian gave him a super ride. He probably wants that little bit of better ground; that’s what we were waiting for. I’m delighted for Gary, who owns him. He will now be offered for sale.”

Hot form

Ian McCarthy continued his excellent season as Princess Aveen (2/1 favourite), owned by Gary O’Hagan, recorded a deserved success. The homebred daughter of Court Cave had finished runner-up on her two previous starts and went one better here under Lawless.

She travelled well throughout before making a decisive move approaching the last, quickening clear to win by two and a half lengths from That Old Chestnut.

McCarthy stated: “She is a lovely mare. She loves that bit of nicer ground, and we always really liked her. We will see where we go from here, but I’d say she will most likely be offered for sale now. She should go on to win plenty more.”

Horse to follow

Malbeck (D. P. Murphy), a debutant son of Cokoriko made smooth progress through the field. A slick jump two-out gave him the upper hand, however, he was headed by a more experienced rival approaching the final obstacle, where the pair became engaged in a tussle. To his credit, he stuck to his task well and should make amends for this defeat in the not-so-distant future.