THE opening day of the annual two-day fixture, which draws the curtain on the northern region point-to-point season, took place at Necarne Castle last Friday.

Strong declarations across the card resulted in two divisions and an eight-race card, with competitive racing throughout.

The opening contest, the four-year-old mares’ maiden, was divided, and the first division saw brothers Barry and Jim O’Neill produce Tanga Mugi (6/4 favourite) to justify her market position on her second start.

The daughter of Sea Moon, acquired for €8,000 at the Goffs Arkle Sale, held every chance on debut at Lisronagh before falling at the penultimate fence.

She quickly made amends for that mishap here as she travelled prominently throughout before quickening smartly around the final bend and staying on strongly to score by five lengths from Readyandwaiting.

The success provided Barry O’Neill with the opening leg of a double on the day, and the winner looks a mare capable of progressing further on the track.

“She’s a very nice filly,” remarked the winning rider. “She was very unlucky to come down in Lisronagh as she was running a great race. Jim [O’Neill] really fancied her today, and she will now be sold.”

Favourite wins

The second division also went the way of the favourite as the Rob James-trained and ridden Moral Compass (6/4 favourite) ensured favourite backers enjoyed a perfect start to proceedings.

The daughter of Goliath Du Berlais, acquired for €30,000 at the Goffs Arkle Sale, is out of a sister to the six-time winner Utopian. She jumped and travelled ominously well throughout before quickening stylishly from the back of the penultimate fence and staying on strongly to comfortably account for La Muleta (2/1 - 5/2), in the colours of the Matchmaker Syndicate.

“She’s a lovely filly,” James noted. “She had a nice run in Loughanmore but, even still, she’s a bit green in her mind. She’s going to fill out but, to her credit, she did that very well.”

In-form stable

The five-year-old mares’ maiden saw another favourite prevail as Lower De Couely (evens - 4/6 favourite) continued the excellent form of the Paddy Turley stable, with this bring an eighth success of the season from just 20 runners.

The newcomer daughter of No Risk At All, out of a dual-winning dam who has produced multiple winners, was given a patient ride by Declan Lavery before making headway approaching three-out.

Quickly sweeping into contention, she cantered into a clear advantage before crossing the line like a fresh horse to score from Loman Lady for the handler’s wife, Mary.

“She did that easily; she cruised through the race,” Lavery said. “She has a lot of class, a bit of pace and jumps well. We have been minding her to get the right track for her, but she’ll sure to be a smart mare, particularly in bumpers.”

THE five-year-old geldings’ maiden also divided, with the opening division going to the Eamonn Doyle-trained Fox Walk (6/1 - 7/1).

The son of Walk In The Park, a €38,000 Goffs Arkle Sale purchase for Mossy Fen Stables Partnership, had shown improved form at Fairyhouse two weeks earlier and progressed further here.

A slick jump three-out brought him firmly into contention before he travelled strongly to the front and stamped his authority on the contest approaching the final obstacle, seeing off Awayoutback.

“He did that excellently,” Finn said. “All his homework has been great, so we’re delighted he could produce what we knew of him on the track.”

The second division went to Bonnie Gold (5/1) for the in-form Denis Murphy stable. Like the first division, this also went the way of a son of Walk In The Park, Acquired for €60,000 at the Derby Sale, Bonnie Gold is a half-brother to the six-time winner Dunvegan.

He had previously shown promise when third in a four-year-old maiden at Tinahely in the autumn and returned to form in good style here, quickening on the approach to two-out before showing a willing attitude to fend off the late challenge of Two Walking Sticks by a length.

Hat-trick

West Of Idaho (evens - 7/4) continued his upward trajectory for local trainer David Christie, recording a hat-trick of point-to-point victories in emphatic fashion.

The six-year-old son of Idaho, carrying the colours of Ray Nicholls, cruised into contention before quickening clear in devastating fashion to annihilate his opposition by 26 lengths from Weespoof providing the second leg of O’Neill’s double.

A delighted Christie commented: “He’s probably our most underrated horse in the yard.” The win was a 900th between the flags for Barry O’Neill.

The older mares’ maiden went to Ballinclay Court (7/1 - 8/1), who defied a 1,073-day absence to score for Shane Cotter and Robert Tector.

The nine-year-old daughter of Court Cave, who had a foal before returning to competitive action, made steady headway after three-out and quickened from the back of the penultimate to deny Crann Rose by a neck.

Holding a hurdles mark of 88, she could prove competitive back under rules during the summer months for owner Aidan Byrne.

THE novice riders’ open contest saw the Largy Bloodstock-owned City Chief (3/1 - 4/1) record his second success of the season, with both victories coming under Wexford rider Cormac Byrne.

The former Grade 2 winner, previously trained by Nicky Henderson, made amends for defeat at Toomebridge six days earlier, as he cruised into contention from three-out before quickening smartly clear to beat favourite Yewtree Hill by six and a half lengths.

Byrne remarked: “After he jumped the first, he just picked up the bridle and travelled sweetly the whole way. Compared to last weekend, he just loved the ground and loved the track. I’ve been lucky to be on him for both his wins this season”

Readyandwaiting (S. T. Doyle): The daughter of Walk In The Park shaped with considerable promise on debut behind a more experienced rival as she pulled 27 lengths clear of the third horse and looks more than capable of making amends for this initial defeat.