BY the kind permission of the Doyle family, Knockmullen House, on the outskirts of New Ross, played host to the Wexford Foxhounds for an eighth time since it’s inaugural fixture in 2019.

From an initial entry of 22, eight lined up for the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden, with the Aidan Fitzgerald-trained Queens Charm (4/1 – 5/1) ultimately coming out on top.

One of two debutants to face the starter, the €25,000 Goffs Arkle Sale graduate was settled behind the leaders by Troy Walsh and came with her challenge between horses approaching the last.

Ridden and edging to the front on the run-in, the Cobajay Syndicate-owned bay went on in the closing stages and was a length and a half clear of the front-running Push Push on crossing the line.

“Her half-sister (Park Princess) won a maiden hurdle during the week, and her work all along has been brilliant,” Fitzgerald enthused.

“We think she is very good and she did what we thought she would do. I’ve recommended her to a good few people. Troy said all she was doing was going away at the line.”

Sweet success

Fitzgerald and Walsh were just denied with both Rices Pool and Pointe A Pitre, with the latter filling the runner-up spot in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

A year to the day since finishing second at Dromahane, the James Walsh-ridden Honey Come Quick (2/1 – 5/2 favourite) made a successful return in this six-runner heat.

Owned and bred by Seamus Osborne and trained by his son Sean, the bay victor had a tussle with the aforementioned runner-up from early in the straight, ultimately keeping on best away from the final fence to prevail by a length and a half.

The runner-up lost little in defeat on what was her point-to-point debut, with the remaining four contenders all pulling up.

“She picked up a couple of injuries along the way. We gave her a bit of time last season, because the ground got hard and we just said we’d leave her,” the winning handler disclosed.

“She improved from Dromahane, and I’d say she wasn’t even near ready for today. I’d say there will be a lot more improvement to come.”

WHILE owner Maurice Sheehy has enjoyed plenty of success over the years, the win of Grey Balls Of Fire (6/4 - 7/4 favourite) in the five-year-old geldings maiden will have been particularly special.

Providing his son Dominic with a first success in the training ranks, the Jukebox Jury grey, who was last seen finishing a close third at Curraghmore, was also completing a double for Brian Lawless.

Making all and jumping well throughout, he was nudged along on the run-in to maintain his advantage, coming home two and a half lengths clear of Mackieshill.

“I’m based in Glenealy, Co Wicklow, and only got my licence a couple of months ago,” the winning handler commented.

“We have a yard full of lovely horses and there is loads of potential there, so hopefully I can get it out of them. It’s a long overdue win for this horse really and we’ll try and sell him now.”

Brian’s brace

Lawless initiated his brace on Jardin De Tunis (4/1), with this Matthew Flynn O’Connor grey leading home 11 rivals in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Failing to make an impact when favourite on debut at Fairyhouse in April, the €110,000 Tattersalls Derby Sale purchase soon tracked the leaders and improved to dispute the running with just under a circuit to go.

Gaining an outright advantage after the third last, he was pressed from the next but showed a willing attitude when ridden and had a length to spare at the line over debutant Rices Pool.

“He had one run last season, but he was a big baby then and I shouldn’t have ran him, it was my own fault,” owner/trainer Flynn O’Connor remarked. “He’s still a big baby and he’s going to improve again.”

AS first winners go, it could hardly have been much sweeter for Jamie McCarthy, as he guided Erigmoor (6/4 - 7/4 favourite) to a deserved success in the concluding six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden for novice riders.

Trained by his father, David O’Brien, and donning the silks of his mother Shirley, the successful 19-year-old soon positioned his mount behind the leaders.

Improving into a share of the lead five out, the Schiaparelli chesnut gained an outright advantage before the third last and drew clear from the next.

In control when making a slight mistake at the last, the former Gordon Elliott-trained seven-year-old ultimately eased to a nine-length win.

“I’m from Blackwater and it’s been a long time coming with this horse,” McCarthy reflected.

“He ran well last weekend (second at Damma House) and I was looking forward to riding him today. We fancied him coming here. I’m in with Mick Goff and we have a few horses at home, so I’m kept busy enough.”

Decisive win

In the colours of the Mossy Fen Stable Partnership, Kenzo Des Bruyeres (1/1 - 5/4 favourite) was another to post a decisive success, with this Eamonn Doyle-trained five-year-old easily accounting for his rivals in the winner of one.

Making the breakthrough in emphatic fashion at Umma House last month, the Kapgarde chesnut was always towards the head of affairs under Rob James.

Shaking off the attentions of Not Now Rodney from early in the straight, he galloped on relentlessly from there and ultimately came home 18 lengths clear of this rival.

“He is a horse with plenty of ability. He is maturing every day and is improving. He’ll go for a winner of two now if he’s not sold,” Doyle explained.

Horse to follow

Rices Pool (A. Fitzgerald): Bought for €92,000 at the Goffs Arkle Sale and a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Slate House, this son of Milan lost little in defeat on debut. Beaten just a length into second by a horse with the benefit of a run, he is sure to be more streetwise next time and looks a nice prospect going forward.