SATURDAY saw the Mid-Antrim Harriers host their second fixture of the season at Toomebridge, and the opening four-year-old maiden produced a taking performance from the Stuart Crawford-trained newcomer Mirage D’Alene (2/1 - 7/2).

Several runners struggled to handle the home bend once the tempo lifted, but this son of Prince Gibraltar belied his inexperience.

Jumping fluently throughout on the undulating track, he travelled strongly before quickening smartly into the straight and drawing clear to score by four lengths from the favourite Crushalion.

“That was a great performance,” commented Stephen Connor of the four-year-old who is out of a half-sister to multiple smart winners, and was acquired privately by Largy Bloodstock for £20,000 at the Goffs UK Yorton Sale.

“We really liked him coming here and he was very professional, he jumped brilliantly, handled the track well and quickened to the line with ease. I felt we went a good gallop, it rode like a decent race and he will now be sold.”

This success moved Connor one ahead of Noel McParlan in the race for the northern title by the end of the day.

Responded

McParlan, however, responded in style by recording a double on the card for Philip McBurney and Gerald Quinn, beginning with Werweiss (evens - 5/4 favourite), who justified his position at the top of the market in decisive fashion to land the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The son of Jeu St Eloi had looked a serious prospect when crashing out at this venue on debut in the autumn, and he made amends for that here.

Making all, he steadily increased the tempo on the final circuit before quickening clear to score by seven lengths from The Stormy Ranger.

“He did that well today,” Quinn explained. “We thought a lot of him coming here in the autumn and he had been a bit unlucky since, but I didn’t think he would get beat today. He’s a lovely horse and will now be sold.”

The McBurney, Quinn, McParlan combination did not have to wait long to complete their double, as Port Glen One (evens - 1/2 favourite) produced a professional debut to land the five-year-old and upwards adjacent maiden.

Market support

The son of Blue Bresil, who is out of a three-time winning dam, had been acquired for £45,000 as a store and justified strong market support.

Always travelling prominently, he quickened impressively to the final obstacle, where a fluent leap sealed matters, as he went on to score with authority from the more experienced Loughareema by six and a half lengths.

“He put in a very professional round there first time out,” Quinn noted. “We have liked him at home, he’s worked very well and hopefully will go on to be lucky for someone else.”

THE Sam Curling team made their journey worthwhile as Glenmalure Flyer (4/1 - 9/2) landed the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden in determined fashion in the colours of Simon Ryan. In what proved to be the closest finish of the day, she stayed on gamely to get the better of Unspokenexpectation by a neck.

The daughter of Elusive Pimpernel had been running consistently since joining the yard, accumulating a string of placed efforts, and this victory was well deserved.

She had to overcome the disadvantage of the runner-up getting first run on her, leaving her with ground to make up entering the straight. However, she responded well, wearing down her rival at the final obstacle before battling on strongly to the line.

“She was tough there. She has been knocking on the door since she joined our stable, so it was good to get her head in front,” Curling said after the first leg of his double.

“I thought David [Doyle] gave her a great ride, he didn’t panic and knew she had the boot to get there, and she stayed on gamely. I’d say she’ll go to Doncaster now.”

Open winner

The in-form Tipperary stable was also responsible for the winner of the open contest, where Routine Excellence (2/1 - 3/1) led home stablemate Longhouse Star.

Ridden by Nicole Lockhead-Anderson, who continues her push for the ladies’ title, the pair dominated the race and battled to the line, with Routine Excellence producing a sharper turn of foot to prevail by a length and a half.

Owned by Gerard Spain, the 10-year-old son of Getaway was recording his first success in open company. Previously trained by Gavin Cromwell, he had won his maiden at Tinahely in October 2020 and reached a peak rating of 120 over hurdles.

Purchased for €7,000, he was having his fourth start for current connections, having been placed twice earlier in the season.

This victory marked Lockhead-Anderson’s 12th success of the season, moving her two clear of Emily Costello in the ladies’ championship standings.

THE final race of the day provided a poignant and fitting conclusion, as Noel Kelly sponsored the older maiden in memory of his stable’s late colleague Katie Simpson.

Appropriately, Kelly’s own Unfortunatecharlie (2/1 - 6/4 favourite) delivered an emphatic success.

Owned, trained and bred by the Kelly family, the seven-year-old son of Soldier Of Fortune turned the contest into a one-horse race. He asserted from four out under Orán McGill, quickly stretching clear before going on to win with ease from Tom Told Me So by 11 lengths.

“I’m delighted and that winner meant as much to me as any,” Kelly reflected. “I sponsored that race in the name of wee Katie Simpson, who worked with us, so to come and win it for her meant everything to me.

“He’s a lovely horse and Orán gave him a great ride. I did really fancy him and he will be offered for sale, but winning that for Katie meant more than anything.”

Horse to follow

Crushalion (G. S. Quinn): Making the running, the son of Maxios travelled strongly and jumped fluently throughout. Slightly unlucky to slip on the home bend when holding every chance, this was still a very encouraging effort, and he looks a winner in waiting on this evidence.