THIS Ballinagore Harriers fixture was marred by heavy rain in the early part of the afternoon, with two of the five bookmakers present succumbing to the elements, leaving well before time.

Debutants claimed both divisions of the four-year-old geldings maiden, with Shane Cotter guiding Thinkitdontjinxit (3/1) to an impressive win in the first split.

Owned and trained by Denis Murphy, the €22,000 foal made some slight mistakes on his way around but quickly settled matters when getting to the front before the second last, streaking to an eight-length win.

Big baby

“He is a nice horse, and his work has been brilliant,” Murphy enthused. “He is still a big baby, and hopefully he’ll head to the sales now.”

Bravely making all in driving rain, the Ross Sugrue-ridden Watery Borren (5/1) claimed the second division in the colours of owner/trainer Peter Flood.

Out of a half-sister to five-time winner Gus Macrae, who was successful in listed company over fences, the Douglas Taylor-bred victor went a few lengths clear from three out.

Blundering at the last, he needed to be kept up to his work on the run-in, with his advantage reduced to just a length on crossing the line.

“Georgie Benson does a lot of work with him and schools him, but is unfortunately in Tattersalls this afternoon,” Flood remarked.

“He worked well there two weeks ago, and we were hopeful of a big run today. He is a very straightforward horse and hopefully he’ll head to the sales now at Cheltenham on Friday.”

TRAINING on the land where this fixture takes place, Brian Lawless aptly opened his account with Lola De Magny (5/2 - 3/1 co-favourite) in the four-year-old mares’ maiden.

Also doing the steering on this French-bred chesnut, the Wicklow native kept it simple from the front, and while his mount did jump slightly right at times, she kept on well in the closing stages to beat C’est Elle by a length and a half.

“She’s a tough mare, and I fancied her coming here today,” Lawless, who trains the winner for his partner Abbie O’Connor, reflected.

“She had a good run the last day and hopefully she’ll head to the sales now.”

Pa King was another to successfully combine training and riding duties, with the Tipperary native guiding Muskerry Rock (5/2 – 3/1) to a convincing triumph in the concluding winners’ of two.

Getting to the front after four out, the Shirocco six-year-old was ridden before the penultimate obstacle and increased his advantage on the run-in, coming home seven lengths clear of City Slippers, the only other finisher in this seven-runner heat.

Eased off

“He had been busy in the autumn and had three runs within four weeks, so we just eased off him a little bit,” King, whose wife Aine owns the bay victor, commented.

“He seemed fresh again today and he won well. He didn’t mind the ground and won on good before, so he is versatile. He might get an entry at Limerick over Christmas.”

King had to settle for second on Rose Of Knocknamoe in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden, with Shake The Bag (2/1 - 9/4) an easy winner under David Doyle.

Placed on recent starts at Loughanmore and Rathcannon respectively, the Sam Curling-trained victor was poised to challenge in second from three out.

Sent to the front between the final two fences, the Mark Byrne-owned six-year-old quickly increased her advantage and was 13 lengths clear on crossing the line.

“We weren’t sure how she’d cope with the ground today, but she handled it well and jumped well,” Doyle reported.

“It was just a matter of not getting there too soon. I was trying to wait for as long as I could because she is lairy in front, but she did it well in the end.”

DONAL O’Connor has enjoyed a dream autumn campaign, with the Mallow native making it five wins from seven rides on Mint Approved (2/1 - 3/1 co-favourite) in the five-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

Down the field when sent off favourite for a bumper at Cork on debut, and fourth in two starts since, the Cormac Doyle-trained bay improved into a share of the lead from seven out.

Gaining an outright advantage after the fourth last, he kept on well for pressure from the penultimate obstacle and despite making a slight mistake at the final fence, he came home three lengths clear of Magic Arch.

“He got to the front after four out and carried me the whole way home from there, he just kept going,” O’Connor, sporting the silks of the Monbeg Farm Racing Partnership, explained.

“I thought he’d get tired, but in fairness, he stayed on very well.”

On the scoresheet

While having to settle for second with the aforementioned Magic Arch, Sean Doyle got on the scoresheet in the open for novice riders.

With Cormac Byrne aboard, Gale Force Jet (6/4 favourite) just prevailed in this four-runner contest, with the Ballindaggin native showcasing his talents on this six-year-old bay. Soon dropping to rear after being headed five out, Byrne bided his time and was in a share of the lead again after getting a dream run through on the inner from the third last.

While three jumped the final fence in unison, the Gearoid Doyle-owned victor ultimately outstayed his rivals on the run-in and was half a length clear of Jack In The Box on crossing the line.

“It’s great for Cormac Byrne, he works very hard,” the winning trainer reflected. “This horse improved a lot from Lingstown, and I’m looking forward to going back over the banks with him again.

“He was a bit green over them the last day, but could turn up in the Ladies Cup in the spring.”

Kilbricken Chase (C. Doyle): From the family of the 2018 Albert Bartlett winner Kilbricken Storm, this El Salvador debutant blundered three out when coming with his challenge.

Staying on well in the closing stages to get within a length of the winner, he should step forward from this initial experience, and he’ll be a threat to all wherever he turns up next.