ASIAN Master took the open at Sunday’s Duhallow Foxhounds meeting in Kildorrery under regular partner Thomas Costello, 24-year-old son of the gelding’s handler Tony Costello.

Asian Master (5/4) made a pleasing return to points duty by finishing second to The Great Unknown at Bellharbour three weeks earlier and the nine-year-old was kept wide here as The Rebel County took the eight runners along.

The son of Shirocco moved third from halfway, arriving to challenge Hunt Away approaching the second-last of the 14 obstacles.

Asian Master then came through to lead on the inner after this penultimate fence and was clearly travelling best at the last as he asserted on the flat to contain Hunt Away by three lengths.

The elder Costello, who partnered numerous winners at Kildorrery during his own race-riding days, reported of his wife Marie’s Asian Master: “We came to a good track for goodish ground. The plan is that he will stay pointing, and he could also run in a hunter chase at Cork over Easter.”

Close finish

The Louis Archdeacon-trained No Loose Ends (4/1) provided rider Luke Kelleher with a seventh career success in the adjacent hunts’ maiden for novice riders, a race in which a little over one and a half lengths covered the first four home.

The five-year-old moved into third spot setting out on the final circuit and had in the region of three lengths to make up on Oh Really and Time To Invest approaching the second last.

Time To Invest, hit the front approaching the final fence, but the winner, a son of Elusive Pimpernel was in full flow by now, and assumed command on the flat.

Runner-up Modern Drift closed inside the final 50 yards, but No Loose Ends held on admirably to thwart him by a half-length in the colours of Aiden Devaney.

“He’s a lovely horse, and I thought that he would run a nice race in Aghabullogue. He might go for a bumper now,” said Archdeacon.

Hero

Owner Patrick Brogan from Boyle will forever recall his initial visit to this meeting as the Harry Kelly-trained newcomer Spanish Hero (4/1), whom he shares with Galwegian Martin Cullinane of Mount Brown Farm, made a triumphant career debut under Johnny Barry in the older geldings’ maiden.

The seven-year-old Spanish Hero eased into second behind long-time leader Bog Cross with three obstacles remaining, and had just overtaken the pacesetter when throwing the faster leap at the final fence.

The seven-year-old bounded clear to dispense with Bog Cross by three lengths with a 19-length break back to I See Fog in third.

DARRAGH Allen is experiencing a stellar run, and the Araglen native, combined with owner/trainer Terence O’Brien, also responsible for last week’s Cheltenham February sales topper Uncle Pad, to collect the five-year-old geldings’ maiden aboard Mahler’s Delight (9/2).

Having pulled up on his only previous start at Monksgrange last term after a second-fence error compromised his chances, Mahler’s Delight made smooth progress approaching four out to hit the front before the third last.

Whilst a penultimate fence blunder by the eventual winner enabled Clais Mhor Capri to edge into a fractional advantage once more, the son of Mahler almost joined issue at the last.

He then dug deep on the flat to master Clais Mhor Capri as the line approached to score by a neck.

The newcomer Barlogue, who sustained serious interference four out, returned a further 14 lengths adrift in third. In O’Brien’s absence, Allen remarked of Mahler’s Delight: “We thought a lot of him before he went to Monksgrange last year, and we really fancied him coming here. He had loads left at the end of his race, and he’ll probably now go to a sale.”

Darragh’s double

Allen was the only individual to partner two winners as he was earlier on the mark aboard the Padraig Butler-trained Darby Hill (4/1) in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.

Darby Hill moved to the head of affairs at the third fence with the daughter of Yeats maintaining a relentless gallop inside the final half-mile to beat newcomer and favourite L’Elite by a widening 20 lengths.

Handler Butler commented of the five-year-old Darby Hill, the first horse that he has trained for Millstreet-based owner William O’Leary: “She’s a smashing mare with a big engine, and she was just a bit keen at Ballindenisk. She’ll probably go for a bumper now if she’s not sold.”

THE Jim O’Neill-owned and trained newcomer Foxy In The Park (9/4) posted a stunning debut victory in the four-year-old mares’ maiden under Rob James.

Foxy In The Park, one of the definite paddock-picks beforehand, was soon positioned at the head of affairs, and she gave a sublime round of jumping in front.

It was all plain sailing from two out as the daughter of Walk In The Park, acquired by Aarron Sinnott for €11,000 at last year’s Goffs Arkle sale, bounded clear to dismiss Miss Sacree by an increasing seven and a half lengths.

El Cairos’ initial handler O’Neill remarked of Foxy In The Park: “She’s a lovely mare that has always worked well, and she’ll now be sold.”

Horse to follow

Barlogue (R. Hickey): This newcomer by Soldier Of Fortune was all but brought to a standstill at the fourth-last in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. He then made eye-catching progress on the run to two out and was beaten a shade over 14 lengths into third. The well-built bay should prove extremely difficult to beat next time, and he also fits the profile of a track winner.