WITH this Bree Foxhounds fixture taking place on the land of the Hill family, it was therefore highly apt for Royal Response (3/1 - 7/2) to prevail in the second division of the four-year-old mares’ maiden.

Donning the Hill family silks made famous by Dawn Run, the €29,000 Goffs Arkle Sale graduate was the first leg of a treble for Barry O’Neill.

Also part of a cross-card three-timer for Colin Bowe (who struck with Goodbye Earl at Oldcastle), the Getaway bay improved to lead before two out and soon surged clear, eventually coming home eight and a half lengths to the good.

“She had a nice introduction at Borris and stepped forward from that big time,” Brendan Walsh, Bowe’s assistant, reflected.

“It was the plan to come here with the colours, the track and the owner, and I’d imagine she’ll go to the sales now.”

Incident-packed

Bowe and O’Neill later doubled their tally with Heron Hill (4/1 - 5/2), in what was an incident-packed second divide of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

In a share of the lead at the time, Certain Escape fell three fences from the finish and brought down warm order favourite Jacobs Ladder (1/1 - 4/5 favourite).

Doing well to avoid that melee, the Milestone Bloodstock-owned victor then found himself in a clear lead, but his advantage was soon reduced by Don’t Hold Back, who was poised to challenge in second when crashing out two fences from home.

A €62,000 Goffs Arkle Sale purchase, the Poet’s Word bay ultimately came home eight and a half lengths to the good.

Treble complete

O’Neill rounded off his fruitful afternoon by guiding Heartbreak Weather (1/1 – 7/4 favourite) to a three-length win in the concluding six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

In a share of the lead for much of the contest, the Tara Lee Cogan-trained chesnut gained an outright advantage from the third last and was merely kept up to his work in the closing stages, readily getting the better of Pacheco.

“He’ll go for the farmers race (Bishopscourt Cup) at Punchestown, but we wouldn’t be averse from running him in a winners’ of one beforehand, just for more experience,” the winning handler revealed.

“Robbie Ennis, who is a farmer from Rathangan in Kildare, owns him.”

KELLS BAY (3/1 favourite) provided Gary Murphy with further joy in the opening divide of the four-year-old mares’ maiden, his sixth individual winner in this age category since the turn of the year.

By Kew Gardens and out of a flat winner, the Turbine Syndicate-owned bay was never far from the pace under Shane O’Rourke, making good progress to dispute the lead after three out.

In front before the next and never needing to be vigorously ridden, she came home two and a half lengths clear of fellow debutante Final Verdict.

“I’ve been telling Louis [Hassett], who owns her with me, all along that I think we have a very smart filly. I think she could be anything,” Murphy enthused. “She has gears and was a standout from a long way back.”

The success of Wordfromhome (6/1 - 4/1) in the first divide of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden drew similarly effusive praise from Sean Doyle.

Landmark

Providing Jamie Scallan with a landmark 100th point-to-point success, the €65,000 Tattersalls Derby Sale purchase came from off the pace and gained an outright advantage on the approach to the penultimate obstacle.

Making a mistake there and allowing Road To Destiny to come with a renewed challenge, the successful Monbeg Partnership-owned bay pulled out more on the run-in and prevailed by a length.

The front pair drew well clear of El Jacko, the only other finisher in this nine-runner heat.

“I’d say he could be a hell of a horse. Jamie said he went through the race with ease,” Doyle revealed. “I’m delighted to give Jamie his 100th winner. He’s an incredible young man to work and has a great attitude.”

On the scoresheet

While having to settle for third with El Jacko, Robert Tector later got on the scoresheet courtesy of Supreme Force (9/4 - 5/2) in the winners of two for novice riders.

Owned and trained by Tector and following up on his recent breakthrough win, the Workforce five-year-old was ridden to the front approaching the penultimate obstacle and kept on well for pressure in the closing stages, coming home two lengths to the good.

“The race really went to plan. He was a bit keen early and I took a pull out of him. I thought then he was nearly too settled, but he picked up again and was good,” winning rider Leon Cullen divulged.

COMBINING riding and training duties, Rob James had an eventful afternoon, and while taking tumbles from two of his five rides, he still came away with a double.

James kept it simple in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden aboard Treasure Valley (2/1 - 9/4 favourite), not seen since finishing third on debut to Ballyfad at Fairyhouse in April of last year

Skipping clear after three out, the €35,000 Tattersalls Derby Sale purchase was merely kept up to his work in the straight and came home two and a half lengths clear of the staying-on Basil And Olive.

“He’s a nice horse and his form was good from last year. He pulled a muscle in the autumn and that’s why he’s only back now. The bit of time paid off with him,” James reflected.

Again donning the silks of the Matchmaker Syndicate, James quickly doubled his tally on Gambling Echo (3/1 - 4/1) in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

A half-sister to Gambling Girl, a Grade 3 winner over flights, the Harzand bay really grinded out the win here, getting up in the final strides to deny the front-running Payslip by a head.

“She’s a grand mare, loves the soft ground and just stays going. She has a nice pedigree and hopefully we’ll get her sold now,” James remarked.

Final Verdict (Robert James): This €30,000 Goffs Arkle Sale purchase is a half-sister to the progressive Scorpio Rising, who has won his last four in Britain.

Showing signs of greenness in the closing stages, this Jukebox Jury grey finished strongly to take second and it’ll come as no surprise if she manages to go a place better on her next start.