THERE was some competitive fare at Monday’s Dawstown fixture, a one hosted by the Muskerry Foxhounds at Birch Hill, and the Rob James-trained/ridden I C U In My Dreams had little more than an exercise canter when sluicing home in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

I C U In My Dreams (4/1 - 6/1), absent since finishing a respectable seventh on her only previous start behind the progressive Onefournine at Curraghmore a little over six months previously, set off in front until she was joined after a mile by the previous weekend’s Ballysteen runner-up Belle Star Outlaw.

The winner, a daughter of Jukebox Jury, jumped well throughout, and injected fresh pace into the race on the descent to the fourth last of the 15 obstacles and she could be called the most likely winner from three out as Belle Star Outlaw was unable to bridge the couple of lengths gap that existed between the pair.

The victorious grey for her part was showing no signs of stopping as she swept clear from the penultimate obstacle to account for Chiroqui Princess, who finished second to none other than Bambino Fever at Stowlin last year, by nine and a half lengths with a further half-length break to Belle Star Outlaw in third.

I C U In My Dreams, whose dual track-winning dam is a half-sister to two blacktype winning mares in Morning Run and Morning Supreme, represents Tom Sinnott from Caim who actually shares her with his brother Pat.

Memorable hours

It certainly was a memorable 24 hours for Pat Sinnott, himself a former trainer, as he likewise was involved with Adondeal who made a winning career debut for Sean Doyle in the Ballindenisk five-year-old geldings’ maiden the previous afternoon.

Handler Alex Ott and his amateur rider son Andy Burke Ott, who similarly featured amongst the winners at Ballindenisk on Sunday, struck with Mister Loolah (6/4 - 7/4 joint-favourite) in the five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunt maiden.

The Bandon runner-up Mister Loolah, who admittedly had his task simplified when main market-rival Bigcitylights exited at the second fence, got into a lovely rhythm at the head of affairs and the son of Sageburg made all the running to contain the mare Amburana by a comfortable four lengths.

Owner/trainer Ott remarked of the five-year-old Mister Loolah: “He ran well first time out to come fourth in Aghabullogue and I bought him privately off a neighbour of mine Edmund Vaughan, who also bred him. Edmund is here today and I also bought Foxy Mick off him that I won this race last year with.

“I’m after saying to him that I will have to buy another one off him now to try and win this race with next year!”

INISHBOFIN continued the excellent run of Sam Curling, who sent out winners at three out of the four weekend meetings, by stepping forwards from his excellent fourth-placed debut effort behind Ballycommon Boy at Dromahane last month to capture the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

With debutant Rebel Ridge still enjoying a clear advantage on the ascent to three out, Inishbofin (11/4 - 5/2 favourite) had to be briefly pushed along by Derek O’Connor.

The winning son of Maxios, acquired for €36,000 as a foal, edged into a narrow advantage from two out only to be challenged on the flat by the patiently-ridden Spring Getaway.

Inishbofin though kept a straight course and he asserted under 75 yards to eclipse Spring Getaway by one and a half lengths while Bay Runner came through to secure the minor honours, a further two and a half lengths back.

“He ran a lovely race in Dromahane and we took a bit of a chance here as the track would be a bit tight for him, but Derek [O’Connor] was available.

“He will now go to the sales,” said owner/trainer Curling of Inishbofin, an early May foal out of a half-sister to Grade 2-winning novice chase mare Scarlet And Dove, tracing back to Our Conor, whom he shares with Frannie Woods.

Back again

Derek O’Connor was back in the coveted number one slot following the winners of two, but it was in his guise as a handler as he was there to welcome his wife Carol’s Second Subaltern (5/2 - 3/1) following the American-bred’s victory in the four-runner contest.

The previous weekend’s Dromahane runner-up Second Subaltern provided 22-year-old Californian native Lucas Williams with a second career success by leading from after the sixth fence.

The nine-year-old sealed victory by throwing marginally the faster jump at the final fence which enabled him to beat Shane Butler’s mount Not Now Rodney by one and a half lengths.

“He is there for the purpose of giving the young lads that work me a spin in winners’ races and he will run away until the end of the season,” disclosed O’Connor of Second Subaltern, who was most meritoriously having a 14th start of the campaign.

Eugene O’Sullivan likes nothing more than to have a winner at this meeting, having sent out subsequent Galway Plate winner Shanahan’s Turn to oblige here in 2013, and the owner/trainer struck with ex track performer Robin Elite (4/1 - 7/2) in the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

The seven-year-old Robin Elite, ridden by the trainer’s nephew Alan O’Sullivan after intended partner Maxine O’Sullivan sustained an earlier fall, led or disputed the running until kicking into a six-length advantage descending the hill to four out.

The favourite No Pockets could never make any significant inroads thereafter and he returned seven lengths adrift of the winner who has now been earmarked for a return to track duty.

THE Eamonn Doyle-trained Agent Argylle (7/1 - 10/1) made light of a six-month break by landing the five-year-old geldings’ maiden under a well-judged waiting ride from Alan Harney.

Agent Argylle, who finished sixth on his debut at Tinahely in late October, came from the rear of the seven-runner field to storm past long-time leader Kapoutchino on the inner before the last to score by a widening three lengths in the increasingly familiar Mossy Fen Stables Partnership silks.

The Mahler-sired Agent Argylle, a €20,000 foal purchase, is out of a half-sister to Welsh Grand National winner Monbeg Dude and Emmet Mullins’ outstanding hunter chaser Its On The Line.

Spring Getaway (D. Doyle): A half-brother to two winners, this newcomer by Getaway came through to challenge Inishbofin after the last when beaten one and a half lengths into second