TESTING ground conditions resulted in slow times and small fields for this North Kilkenny Foxhounds fixture, with just 33 runners taking their chance across the six races.

A particularly wet patch of ground down the back straight resulted in a delay to proceedings, as officials reconfigured the track, with the second fence subsequently omitted throughout the afternoon.

Registering her sixth win of the season, Nicole Lockhead Anderson was seen to good effect on John O’Leary’s Beau Walking (4/6 - 6/4 favourite) in the open for novice riders.

In front from flag fall, the Sam Curling-trained eight-year-old was joined by Sir Ollie approaching two out and after a protracted tussle, there was just a neck between them at the line.

On his first try in open company, the runner-up lost little in defeat, with Lord Of Kerak and Ambitious Fellow close behind in third and fourth respectively.

“He jumped very well and travelled well, so it all worked out,” the winning rider reflected.

“I was trying to stay on the outside everywhere and he was tough, he stuck his neck out and galloped to the line. I’d say he’ll carry on in open races now.”

Hill tough to conqueror

Pulled up on debut at Nenagh last month, Clifton Hill (2/1 - 5/2) was another to make virtually all, with this Mark Cahill-trained bay claiming the concluding five-year-old and upwards adjacent maiden.

In a share of the lead with Legend De Touchete from the outset, the Pa King-ridden victor made a slight mistake three out and gained an outright advantage before the next, drawing clear in the closing stages to score by seven lengths.

“He has been slow to mature,” Cahill, who trains the winner for owner/breeder Frank McNulty, revealed.

“He stood on the board at the third last at Nenagh and made a bit of a mistake. In fairness to Pa, he minded him from there and we knew he had improved from that run.

“He loves that ground, he is a real Westerner, the softer the better.”

Doyle completes

one terrific week

AFTER selling Lingstown winners Monster Truck and Palinca for a combined total of £930,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale on Thursday, Bold Opinion (5/4 - 6/4) provided Cormac Doyle with further joy in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Fourth when last seen at Ballycrystal in December, the Jack Hendrick-ridden €12,500 Goffs Arkle Sale purchase swept to the front when Basil And Olive crashed out three fences from home.

In the silks of Patrick McCarthy for the first time, the successful Maxios bay increased his advantage on the run-in and came home 10 lengths clear of Mangan Jacko, the only other finisher in this four-runner heat.

“It has been a great week. The sales couldn’t have gone any better,” Doyle reflected. “He had a nice run at Ballycrystal the last day and he is coming forward after every run. I’d say he’ll probably go for a winners’ race now.”

Profitable week

Selling Borris winner Monzon Sport for £400,000 at Tattersalls Cheltenham, Pat Doyle was another to end a profitable week on a high, with his Iron Empress (7/4 - 5/2) taking the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden under Finny Maguire.

Hampered in the straight on more than one occasion by wayward leader Align The Cosmos, the successful Goffs Arkle Sale graduate (€16,000) eventually edged to the front on the approach to the last.

Slow over that obstacle, she gave another chance to her aforementioned rival, but pulled out more on the run-in to prevail by a length in the colours of Doyle’s wife Mary.

“She suffered plenty of interference and Finny said she was value for five or six lengths more than the winning margin,” the handler explained.

“We think she’s a very good filly.”

OWNED, trained and ridden by Luke Murphy, who is based near Gorey, Custodium (5/4 - 2/1 favourite) claimed an eventful four-year-old geldings maiden.

Closely related to 2005 Arkle hero Contraband and a half-brother to six-time winner Sound And Fury, the €16,000 Tattersalls Derby Sale purchase made virtually all.

Holding a narrow advantage on the approach to three out, the successful chesnut was left clear by the fall of nearest pursuer Doc Callaghan.

Travelling best on the approach to the next, he was left further clear when Business Class unseated at that obstacle and he ultimately eased to a 10-length win, with Champ Du Charmil the only other finisher.

Strong horse

“He is a big strong horse and handled conditions well. He had been doing really good work at home,” Murphy commented.

“It was just a case of keeping it simple in front and I was hoping the ground wouldn’t be too testing for him.

“I knew he was a nice horse and I was confident coming here today. He’ll head to the sales now, if he’s not sold in the meantime.”

Providing Gary Murphy and Shane O’Rourke with their third success in as many weekends, Queen Of The Grove (5/2 - 7/2) is now also likely to be sold, following on from her win in the five-year-old and upwards mares maiden.

One of three debutants in the six strong field, the €9,500 Tattersalls July Store Sale purchase raced towards rear in the colours of the Turbine Syndicate, and still had plenty to do in fourth from three out.

Outstayed

Coming with her challenge on the approach to the last and jumping that fence in a three-way share of the lead, she ultimately outstayed her rivals on the run-in and had a length-and-a-half to spare at the line.

“The ground is so tough out there, I just told Shane to take his time and that she’d stay galloping. Her jumping and galloping are unreal,” Murphy enthused.

“The horses are flying and she’ll probably head on to the sales now.”

Whiskeyontherocks (R. Tector): Appearing a spent force in fourth from three out, this €9,000 Tattersalls Derby Sale purchase stuck to her task well in the straight and was just eight lengths off the winner on crossing the line.

Sure to step forward from this initial effort, she’ll undoubtedly be a lot more streetwise wherever she turns up next.