AS is so often the case, locals were to the fore at Lingstown, with Mayglass native Jack Hendrick stealing the show by completing a treble.

While missing the entire autumn campaign through injury, Hendrick has been making up for lost time in recent weeks and struck first aboard the impressive Palinca (3/1 - 1/1 favourite) in the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden.

Making good progress from three out and getting to the front before the next, the Cormac Doyle-trained bay drew clear and eased to a 10-length win.

The Goliath Du Berlais victor was bought for €32,000 at the Tattersalls Derby Sale and is owned by the Mongbeg Farm Partnership.

“We thought she’d win to be honest. All the horses are in good form and have been doing well, but we just thought this one was a bit better,” the winning rider reflected. “I just dropped her in because I knew she had plenty of speed, and there was plenty of pace. We just took our time, and going to the second last she put the race to bed. It was easy from there home.”

Lethal combination

Representing the same owner, trainer, rider combination, the bookmakers weren’t taking any chances with Monster Truck (4/5 - 1/1 favourite) in the first divide of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Another by Goliath Du Berlais and also picked up at the Tattersalls Derby Sale (€90,000), the imposing French-bred was never far from the pace and got to the front when pushed along on the lengthy run to the final fence.

Keeping on well from there, he was two and a half lengths clear of Fernando Dando at the line.

“He jumped super throughout, he’s a big powerful horse,” Hendrick enthused. “The top bend was a bit too tight for him, he is 17.2hh. When I got him straightened up and got after him, he showed a great attitude all the way to the line.”

Treble time

Hendrick combined with fellow local man Denis Moore to complete his three-timer on Potter (4/5 - 4/6 favourite) in the concluding maiden for handlers with 10 wins or less.

The only newcomer in the line-up, the Idaho six-year-old improved to the front before the third and was never headed thereafter. Ridden before the last, he showed a willing attitude on the run-in to beat Many Orders by four lengths, with the pair drawing clear of the remainder.

“He’s a big horse and I just gave him time,” Moore, who also owns the bay victor, explained. “Jack said he was idling in front, but when he saw another horse coming to him, he went on again. If an offer comes, he might be sold.”

ONE of four impressive winners at this well-attended fixture, Royale Walk (2/1 - 3/1), who is out of a French Grade 1 winner, easily accounted for six rivals in the five-year-old mares maiden.

The only debutante in the line-up, the Milestone Bloodstock-owned bay made good progress into second from two out and merely toyed with leader Annie Mulligan on the run to the last.

Soon sauntering to the front under Barry O’Neill, the €42,000 Tattersalls Derby Sale purchase quickly stretched clear and came home nine lengths to the good, without ever coming off the bridle.

“She is a very nice mare at home, she has a big engine and did that well today,” winning trainer Colin Bowe commented.

Fogarty extends record

Jonathan Fogarty claimed the five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden for the third time in the last five years, with his Pelican Hill (4/5 - 4/6 favourite) yet another to register a clear-cut win.

In a share of the lead for much of the journey, the €78,000 Tattersalls Derby Sale purchase gained an outright advantage before the last and soon went clear under Finian Maguire.

Increasing his lead with the minimum of fuss on the run-in, the Gaynestown Stud Partnership-owned bay ultimately had 12 lengths to spare at the line.

TOM Byrne was yet another local on the scoresheet, with his Got To Be Real (4/1 – 8/1) springing a surprise in the second divide of the four-year-old geldings maiden.

Given a patient ride by Josh Berry, the €8,000 Goffs Arkle Sale graduate made progress from four out and got a dream run through on the inner to lead early in the straight.

He quickly increased his advantage and while stumbling at the back of the last, he ultimately came home 10 lengths clear of Send Em Running.

“He acted up a bit at the sales and I think that’s why I was able to get him for a bit cheaper,” Kilmore-based Byrne, who also owns the Getaway bay, revealed.

“As soon as I brought him home, he was as quiet as a lamb and we’ve never missed a beat with him. He done what I was expecting, and he’ll head to the sales now please God.”

10th success for House

Unlike the other six winners, Fountain House (4/5 – 1/1 favourite) brought a wealth of experience to the table, with this Eoin Mahon-ridden eight-year-old registering a tenth career success in the open banks race.

Ian McCarthy’s likeable bay skipped a few lengths clear when ridden after three out, but needed to be kept up to his work on the run-in, ultimately holding off What Path and Gale Force Jet by just three-quarters of a length and a neck respectively.

“He’ll continue to run in opens before going for the Ladies Cup,” McCarthy, who trains the winner for his wife Nicki, disclosed. “We’ll freshen him back up now and go for the open at Dromahane before Punchestown.”

Horse to follow

Gale Force Jet (S. T. Doyle): Held in high regard by connections, this six-time point-to-point winner finished strongly to take third in the banks race, on what was just his second try in this discipline. Now likely to be Punchestown-bound, he’ll be a threat to all wherever he turns up there.