THE second day of the two-day fixture at Necarne took place on Saturday, which completed the 2025/’26 northern region season. With titles in the balance, it was an exciting day of action.

The opening contest was the four-year-old auction maiden confined to horses purchased for €25,000 or less as unraced three-year-olds.

The first division saw Ballywillin (4/1 - 9/2) provide Stuart Crawford with his 18th winner of the season, surpassing his previous best tally of 17 winners recorded during the 2009/’10 campaign.

The debutant son of Affinisea was ridden patiently towards the rear before being urged forward from the back of three out. He responded gamely to make smooth headway and joined issue at the final obstacle before staying on to score by a length and a half from Masterius.

The success also moved Stephen Connor one winner clear of Barry O’Neill in the race for the northern region riders’ title, with Connor stating: “He was one that was to be thrown away and forgotten about for the season as he was weak, but we needed him today. It’s worked out, but he’s a nice horse and he will improve a lot for this.”

Derek’s double

The second division also went to a son of Affinisea as Hollywood Nights (5/2 - 4/1) won under his trainer Derek O’Connor. The €20,000 Goffs Arkle Sale purchase is out of the four-time winner Hill Fairy, and ran in the colours of his O’Connor’s wife, Carol.

Although still showing signs of greenness, he made up ground stylishly approaching the final obstacle before displaying a smart turn of foot to score by a length from favourite Weafers Cross.

O’Connor commented: “He was quite green through the race, but I loved the way he finished out. He’s a superb jumper.”

The victory also brought up the opening leg of a double on the day for the O’Connor, who is at the top of the 2025/’26 overall jockeys title with two weekends of the season remaining.

Everest The Brave (2/1 favourite) brought up the second leg of O’Connor’s double. The six-year-old son of Shantaram was making his debut for owner-handler Gavin Cromwell.

Out of a half-sister to the five-time winner Seskin Flyer, he was having his second career start, having fallen on debut at Cragmore when still holding every chance. Always prominent, he stayed on strongly to fend off Dooneen by a length.

“He’s still very, very babyish for his age, but he overcame a loose horse and a few traffic problems,” O’Connor commented. “He will improve a lot and will be a nice hunter chaser.”

THE open contest proved decisive in the region’s riders’ championship as the Ian McCarthy stable continued their remarkable strike rate of over 50% with Hearts And Spades (5/2 - 7/4).

Carrying the colours of Nicki McCarthy, the prolific son of Maxios recorded his seventh career success, having previously finished runner-up at the Punchestown Festival.

This victory also saw Hearts And Spades join the Sam Curling-trained mare, The Great Unknown, at the head of the leading point-to-point horse standings.

The seven-year-old had travelled strongly on the final circuit before quickening clear approaching the last to beat Dorking Cock (9/2-4/1) by three lengths, with Carnfunnock (6/4-5/4 favouriite) and Stephen Connor finishing third.

An all-important victory for Barry O’Neill, it was enough for him to retain his riders’ title in the region, as he prevailed by one winner.

Local handler David Christie enjoyed another notable success as West Of Idaho returned just 24 hours after victory in the winners-of-three contest to land the adjacent winners’ race under Barry O’Neill.

The victory had seen O’Neill draw level with Stephen Connor in the title race. Carrying the colours of Ray Nicholls, the progressive six-year-old son of Idaho once again dominated proceedings, storming clear to beat Dunaird by 26 lengths.

Having shown significant improvement throughout the season, he now looks ready for a step up into open company and should also prove a major force in maiden hunter chases.

THE opening division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden produced a dramatic conclusion with the leading two horses both exiting at the last, allowing the Matty Flynn O’Connor-trained Frompillartopost (5/1 - 6/1) to stay on gamely and get up on the line to deny Divinator.

The son of Pillar Coral showed a willing attitude throughout and deservedly got off the mark on his third start in the colours of the handler.

The second division provided the Rob James stable with their second winner of the weekend as Certain Escape (6/4 - 5/4 favourite) made amends for falling on debut at Monksgrange when still travelling strongly.

Representing the Matchmaker Syndicate, the son of Getaway travelled smoothly through the race before increasing the tempo from the penultimate fence and quickening clear to deny Iwanttobreakfree by five and a half lengths.

“He’s a lovely horse,” James stated. “He fell in Monksgrange when I fully expected a big showing from him on debut. So, to be honest, I didn’t expect any less than that from him today. He’s a classy sort who’ll now be sold.”

The final contest saw Patrick Ward’s Minella Cristal (5/2-3/1) get off the mark under Noel McParlan. The seven-year-old son of Shantou had previously shaped with promise when runner-up at Tyrella and appeared well suited by the sounder surface conditions here.

Positioned prominently throughout, he increased the tempo from two-out and stayed on strongly into the straight to score decisively from Cooleagh.

Horse to follow

Asamahleroffact (J. M. Fogarty): This Mahler gelding looked set to take the honours before crashing out at the final obstacle. Trained by Jonathan Fogarty, he shaped with considerable promise and should be capable of quickly making amends for this unfortunate mishap.