THERE were no fewer than nine races and 98 runners at Saturday’s 30th anniversary Stonehall Harriers meeting at Ballysteen, and the Jonathan Fogarty-trained newcomer Night League (6/4 - 5/4 favourite) lit up the fixture for many by annihilating the opposition in the first division of the four-year-old maiden.

The well-touted Night League, a €37,000 foal purchase who was acquired by current connections for €55, 000 at last year’s Tattersalls Ireland July sale, moved through to dispute the running from the fifth of the 15 obstacles with Hadahi.

The son of Order Of St George edged ahead from four out and was travelling best with in the region of a six-length advantage when his closest pursuer Sunset Carousel exited at the second-last.

Night League, sporting the familiar silks of Gaynestown Stud Partnership, then came home almost in splendid isolation as he sauntered further clear to beat the only other finisher Max Attack by 31 lengths.

Worked well

“He’s a lovely horse that has always worked very well. He’ll now go to next week’s Goffs sale at the Punchestown festival,” reported handler Fogarty’s brother Mikey of Night League, a late May foal who is out of an unraced own-sister to Grade 2-placed hurdler Carriganog.

Night League’s rider Derek O’Connor was the only individual to partner two winners, the Galwegian later teaming up with his brother Paurick O’Connor to collect the first division of the six-year-old and upwards maiden aboard Military Saint (6/4 - 2/1).

The six-year-old Military Saint, owned by the Three Dudes Syndicate that includes breeder Leonard MacMahon’s daughter Clare MacMahon, brought the best form to the table considering that he finished second at Rathcannon in November.

The winner shadowed runner-up Craan Rose from three out and took the measure of Mick Goff’s admirable mare at the last to score by two and a half lengths.

On the scoresheet

Evan Nugent, a Clare native who works with Derek O’Connor, got on the scoresheet by teaming up with Brian McMahon to collect the open aboard Tullybeg (3/1 - 4/1).

A former nine-time winner for Gordon Elliott who was rated 133 when winning the 2023 renewal of the Mayo National in Ballinrobe, Tullybeg always travelled well on the heels of the leaders with the 11-year-old moving through to lead after three out.

He was soon joined by Dylan Oak and, having mastered Frank Oakes’ charge at the last, he then had sufficient reserves of stamina left to withstand the late challenge of Routine Excellence by a neck.

Handler McMahon indicated that Tullybeg, representing Sean Moran, will now run on the racetrack for the summer.

OWNER-handler Tom Keating, also on the mark with the late J.T. McNamara’s mount The First One at the initial Ballysteen meeting in May 1996, struck with newcomer Town Agent (4/1 - 6/1) in the second division of the four-year-old maiden.

Town Agent raced prominently for Adam Feeney except that he seemed beaten in fourth spot after two out as Mon Angevin appeared the most likely winner in front.

Mon Angevin though came to grief at the last when holding a two-length advantage over Bielle Biarrey with Eamonn Doyle’s charge likewise departing here. The drama was far from over, however as Desert Boy was left in front only for he too to fall, and Town Agent, who was in the region of 12 lengths adrift approaching the last, was then left clear to dismiss the only other finisher Tayant Blue by 45 lengths.

Town Agent, a son of Harzand that was purchased at last year’s Fairyhouse July sale, is now likely to be sold.

Clear-cut success

The Terence O’Brien-trained What’llido (5/1 - 4/1) vindicated the promise of her most recent third-placed effort at Ballynoe by recording a clear-cut success under Darragh Allen in the five-year-old mares’ maiden.

What’llido, a Poet’s Word-sired half-sister to the 10-time track winner Sole Pretender, made virtually all the running and she asserted from two out to repel newcomer Fiercestone by six lengths.

O’Brien indicated that What’llido, carrying the colours of the Coolglen Syndicate, may now be sold.

On an afternoon of tight finishes, the closest one of all came in the second division of the six-year-old and upwards maiden with Three Tribes and Proud As Punch flashing across the line with very little to separate them.

The judge awarded the verdict to former handicap hurdler Three Tribes (4/1 - 6/1), the mount of Ollie Gilligan, by a short-head.

The nine-year-old is trained by Barry Murphy outside Clarinbridge and the Ocovango-sired bay, who pulled up on his points debut at Liscarroll in March, is shared by Paul Geoghegan with his handler.

DENIS Murphy was responsible for no less than five winners over the weekend, and the absent owner/handler struck with the Jack Hendrick-ridden Kiwi De Cotte (3/1 - 4/1) in the winners’ of two.

The six-year-old Kiwi De Cotte, a Tinahely February maiden victor that then pulled up at Portrush on March 26th behind Weespoof, moved second behind Theatrical Getaway from two out and then secured the faster jump at the final fence en-route to eclipsing Colin Bowe’s charge by a head.

Murphy was represented by his sister Bernie Murphy. She reported: “I ride out this horse myself every day, and he probably wasn’t right the last day in Portrush. Denis said then that we would go for the hunters’ chase at Wexford in May and that we would have him here beforehand.”

Sales bound

On an excellent day for Wexford-trained horses, the Eamonn Doyle-trained newcomer Santa Wave (2/1 - 5/2) booked his passage for this past Thursday’s Punchestown festival sale by making a victorious debut in the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Santa Wave, a €72,000 graduate of the 2024 Derby sale, got into a lovely rhythm close to the pace and had just come through for Alan Harney to join issue with long-time leader Flamm De Karbarh at the last.

With the latter falling here, the Mossy Fen Stables Partnership-owned Santa Wave strode clear on the flat to dispose of Keppols Poet by five lengths.

There was further drama at the final fence in the second division of this same contest as the Pat Doyle-trained Got The Honours (2/1 - 9/4) had just overtaken Minella Cyclone only for John Nallen’s representative to blunder here when destined for second spot, then unseating on the run-in.

Got The Honours, who finished third on his only previous start behind Tendoo at Turtulla in November, then drew clear to see off Wave Goodbye by 15 lengths in the hands of John Gleeson.

Got The Honours, owned by his handler’s wife Mary Doyle, is a Crystal Ocean-sired grandson of former three-time Grade 1 winning hurdles mare Asian Maze.

Flamm De Kerbarh (J. C. Hurley): This son of Gemix had just been joined by the winner Santa Wave when falling at the last in the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The French-bred had previously finished fourth in the Cork pointers bumper on Easter Monday and he should easily get off the mark in due course.