ROB James reached his milestone 400th point-to-point winner when partnering Found It (4/6 favourite) to complete a double for the Wexford rider in the five-year-old mares’ maiden.

Trained by Pat Doyle, Seamus Kennedy’s mare was settled towards the rear in the early stages before reeling in the leaders between the fourth and third last fences.

She quickly swept past most rivals before it became a prolonged duel with the front-running Everyday Life in the home straight.

Having been briefly headed after the last, the daughter of Maxios rallied gamely to regain the advantage by a neck in a thrilling finish.

“I was a bit disappointed in Cragmore with the way she behaved. She was too keen,” Doyle explained.

“I asked Rob to settle her at the back today to learn a bit.

“It was tough going out there, not as quick as people expected. She will be for sale.”

The first leg of James’ double came in the opening contest as he steered New Grange (2/1 - 6/4 favourite), a horse that he also trains, to land the four-year-old maiden for owners the Matchmaking Syndicate.

A €78,000 Arkel sale purchase, New Grange set off in the lead and attacked his fences throughout.

Dramatic unseat

Cleverfox came to challenge three fences from home and swiftly moved past the eventual winner before dramatically unseating his rider after the penultimate obstacle.

The son of Walk In The Park was the only horse close enough to pounce and quickly reasserted control before a fluent leap at the final fence allowed him to stride clear on the run-in for a 24-length victory over Track Commander.

“He is a lovely big horse,” James said. “He was in my hands a bit much early on, but was staying at it well when the leader fell.

“I think a lot of him ability-wise, and his fitness is getting there now. He will probably be for sale.”

Another son of Walk In The Park, Sir Topham Hatt (1/2 favourite) was a comfortable winner of the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ contest for novice riders, providing Shaun Greene with his first winner between the flags.

Interrupted career

Trained by his owner Matthew Flynn O’Connor, this gelding had an interrupted early career, however he is certainly making up for lost time.

After his rider jumped him off in second with the leader in their sights, the pair moved upsides turning for home, effortlessly stretching clear after the penultimate obstacle.

A quick jump at the final fence secured a 15-length win from Vicomte Le Brave.

“He was hurt as a four-year-old and was off for over a year,” Flynn O’Connor remarked.

“The form from his debut has worked out well since though.

“His run in Punchestown was good preparation for today, and this would be perfect ground for him.

“I will probably go for a winners’ race now before the season is out and hopefully contest more winners’ races next year.”

HAVING been purchased for €60,000 at the 2025 Goffs Arkle sale, Alamo Aigles (2/1 - 6/4 favourite), was in a determined mood when landing the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Trained by Ellmarie Holden and owned by her mother Catherine, the bay had disappointed when pulling up as an odds-on favourite for his debut at Ballynoe 11 months earlier.

Derek O’Connor rode his mount close to the pace, and his slick jumping caught the eye throughout. The pair took up the running on the way to the final obstacle but had to find extra to repel a closing Montevallo by three-quarters of a length.

“Sure, we were mad about him last year, but we left Ballynoe very disappointed on his first day out,” Holden admitted.

“That made me nervous coming here today after a long break, but he was tough on that ground. We’re delighted with that now as we always thought a lot of him. He will go to the sales.”

Promise

Morning Express (3/1 - 7/2) confirmed the promise of her debut second at Turtulla in mid-November by going one place better in the six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden for Alice Curran.

The Stephen Curran-owned and bred daughter of Malinas was always within striking distance, and after pressing the leader from three out, the eight-year-old asserted after the penultimate fence. A good jump at the last under Adam Feeney was enough to seal an eased-down eight-length victory from Notsomethingelse in a competitive heat.

“She did it well,” the winning handler reported of her second winner of the campaign. “She wouldn’t be mad about the ground, and would be better on nicer ground.

“She is a homebred, a half-sister to Ida’s Boy, who we also had. The plan is to go to the Gain Mares Final.”

THE concluding winners’ of three contest went to Yewtree Hill (6/4-5/4 favourite), who was not for passing as he eventually cleared away from Lord Desart by five lengths for owner Robert Armstrong.

Trained by Cian Collins and ridden by Barry O’Neill, the son of Kalanisi, either led or disputed throughout. Though briefly headed at the second last, he quickly regained the initiative before the final fence and stayed on strongly up the straight.

“I’m delighted with that, he did it well,” Collins commented. “He would prefer better ground, so that was a good performance there.

“They are great owners. The maiden hunter chase in Downpatrick in six weeks looks ideal, so we’ll target that.”

Cleverfox (A. Leahy): This son of Berkshire looked to have the four-year-old maiden at his mercy before dramatically unshipping his rider when clear on the approach to the last. If he produces the same gears next time and avoids misfortune, it will take a good one to beat him.