AFTER a recent dry spell, the rain came in the week prior to this meeting, leaving the ground in perfect condition for racing.

This resulted in quick times around the circuit, with the quickest being in the second division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden, where Mister Pessimistic (4/1 - 5/1) won going away by four and a half lengths.

The son of Westerner was settled in midfield before making smooth progress to seize the initiative with four fences to go.

He went clear with Gaelic Rover after the second last, but had soon gone on once more early in the straight to score for owner-breeder Alan Kavanagh.

Handler Sean Doyle reported: “He’s out of a very good mare I trained, called Gracemount. He’s a little horse, very uncomplicated but I’d say he’s got a big engine and the further he goes, the better he is. He’ll probably end up in Punchestown for the sale now.”

Before that impressive showing, Love Sign D’aunou (4/1) captured the first division of this maiden by a length and a half under Noel McParlan.

Always handy

Philip McBurney’s €70,000 Goffs Arkle sale acquisition was always handy and moved into a clear lead with a circuit to go.

He was then challenged by It’s Party Time, who still had every chance when running out at the last, but the son of Goliath Du Berlais stayed on well to the line.

Handler Gerald Quinn said: “He’s a very big weak four-year-old, so will improve a lot for a summer’s worth of grass. He was very green when he hit the front there, but Noel loved him.”

Double up

That rider-handler combination of Noel McParlan and Gerald Quinn went on to record a double on the day for owner Philip McBurney as Rathkenny (5/2 - 7/4 favourite) powered clear in the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Just touched off at this venue last October, this classy Masked Marvel gelding travelled through this race with consummate ease. He took up the running after the third last and was in command from there as he won by three lengths on the bridle.

“We loved him from day one,” enthused Quinn. “He always showed us a lot of potential, but he’s proved to us there today what he shows us at home.”

Sweet success for Lennon Grove

THE opening contest of the day was claimed by Lennon Grove (3/1 joint-favourite) for Derek and Carol O’Connor.

The once raced mare by Walk In The Park went one better than when a good second on debut, showing a sharp turn of foot in the process to score by half a length over Millstatt Abbey.

Rider Eoin Mahon stated: “She was very good. We thought a lot of her even before today as she had a good run the first day, and we thought her speed would really suit around here.

“She travelled through her race and jumped like a miller. She shows us a lot of speed and class at home.”

Southern raiders also captured the five-year-old mares’ maiden, as Mornington Beach (8/1 - 9/1) won in facile fashion by a widening seven lengths at the death.

Susan O’Gorman’s grey has certainly improved from her recent third at Oldcastle as she quickly rounded the field here after the second last.

Ears pricked

The daughter of Kingston Hill, who is a home-bred for the Howlett family, crossed the line with her ears pricked which would suggest there is a lot more to come. “She won well,” rider Jamie Scallan said of the mare’s seven-length victory over Port And Brandy.

“She should’ve won the last day as well, but I’ll take the blame for that, and I’m delighted to repay the lads for leaving me on her. We rode her cold today and she showed a lovely turn of foot.”

Battling qualities

Dubhain (4/1 - 7/1) collected the first prize on debut for owner Sean McElroy as he showed great battling qualities in the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The brown son of Diamond Boy was given an aggressive ride by Stephen Connor, and had a clear lead until the fourth last, where he was joined by the eventual second Ballyedward.

The pair set down to battle from then on, with this gelding’s jumping aiding his case along with the game attitude shown which saw him prevail by half a length.

“He’s been doing everything really well,” said handler Stuart Crawford.

“Sean McElroy has been a big supporter of mine for a long time so delighted now for him to win the way he did.”

A CONCLUDING race double for both Barry O’Neill and David Christie was kicked off by the hardy Hathaways Cottage (3/1- 5/1), who made all to score easily for the fifth time in her career in the mares’ open.

The Mahler mare jumped out and went into a clear lead from early on, which turned into an unassailable one on the last circuit as she cruised to defeat Bestaline by 24 lengths.

“She’s a tremendous mare,” Christie said of Ray Nicholas’ mare. “I knew on a big galloping track like this she’d put it up to them and that’s exactly what she’s done. She’s a proper galloper.”

The second leg of the double came in the winners-of-two where My Life Be Like (evens – 11/10 favourite) really showed his class as he won impressively by a hard held four and a half lengths. Sent to the front by O’Neill after the seventh fence, this vastly improving gelding maintained a strong gallop from this point with none of his rivals able to lay a glove on him, despite their best efforts.

“We haven’t gotten to the bottom of him yet, he has some engine,” O’Neill said of Shane WIlson and Jamsey Hagan’s victor. “He’s a very bright prospect for next year and we’re just bringing him along gradually, and hopefully he’ll make a top hunter chaser.”

It’s Party Time (M. E. Doyle): Hampered three-out on debut at Lingstown, this €70,000 Goffs Arkle Sale acquisition was upsides with every chance here coming to the last only to be slightly intimidated and running out through the wing.