SITUATED outside Thomastown, this new home of the Kilkenny Foxhounds was well received by trainers and jockeys alike, with Sean Doyle describing it as “a lovely, very well laid out, big galloping course”, while Bertie Finn said: “It’s a fine big and fair track with a tough finish”.

The Monbeg handler had the honour of saddling the first winner at the venue, with his Cheers To You (3/1 - 5/1) leading home nine rivals in the four-year-old mares’ maiden.

The initial leg of a double for Jamie Scallan, this €38,000 Tattersalls Derby Sale purchase tracked the leaders from flag fall and improved to the front before three out.

Joined from the next, she made a slight mistake at the last but soon regained a narrow advantage and, while edging to her left on the run-in, she had a length to spare at the line.

“She’s a lovely, big galloping mare and we thought a lot of her coming here,” Doyle said of the grey victor who is owned by his brother Gearoid.

Double up

Scallan later completed his brace for another Doyle brother, guiding Eamonn’s Stay Hopeful (6/4 - 9/4 joint-favourite) to a hard-fought win in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Just two lengths separated the first five home in what was a bunch finish to this 13-runner contest.

Carrying the colours of the Mossy Fen Stables Partnership, the bay victor got to the front on the run-in and was all out at the line to hold off the late surge of Run Away Joe by a neck.

Sweeper System, who gained an outright lead before the last, was another neck away in third, with both Always Wanted and Cadillac Ranch close in behind.

Stylish win for Devereux’s charge

DELIVERINSTYLE (5/1 - 7/1) lived up to his name in the concluding six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden, with this Vincent Devereux-trained debutant completing a double for Shane O’Rourke.

Later described as ‘a home-bred through and through’, the El Salvador bay raced in rear early, quickly improving to the lead after the first.

Not seeing another rival from there, he never came off the bridle and was value for more than the winning margin of a length and a half.

While fellow debutant Coded Welder tried hard on the run-in, he ultimately had to settle for the runner-up spot, drawing 15 lengths clear of the third.

“We were hoping that he’d do that alright and he seemed to do it fairly well,” Devereux, who trains the winner for his father James, reflected.

“We won’t be going to the sales with him, but if someone comes along, we’ll sell him. If not, he’ll go for a winners’ race somewhere.”

O’Rourke had earlier guided the Ian Power-owned and trained Double The Dance (8/1 - 6/1) to a narrow win in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

A faller when still in contention on debut at Dromahane earlier this month, the €18,000 Goffs Arkle Sale purchase raced in mid-division before making progress into third early on the final circuit.

Ridden into a narrow lead two out, the Maxios bay was then headed by Maverick Mack away from the last, but battled back gamely in the closing stages to beat that Denis Murphy-trained rival by a short-head.

“He was running a lovely race at Dromahane on debut when he fell two out there,” Power, who trains near the south Kilkenny village of Slieverue, commented.

“He’s a lovely horse and we were happy with him coming here today. That’s our second winner of the season and we don’t have too many in.

“He’ll probably head to the sale at Punchestown now.”

WHILE he already has six track wins to his name, Josh Halford broke new ground by registering his first point-to-point success in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Partnering the Enda Bolger-trained Honey Be Good (3/1 – 4/1), Halford brought his mount to the head of affairs after the first, and they made most of the running from there.

Tackled and joined by Mild Magic approaching two out, the Timmy and Trish Hyde-owned victor was soon ridden and pulled out more to regain an outright advantage after the last, drawing clear from there to win by five lengths.

“She just wanted good ground,” Bolger said of the Harzand six-year-old.

“She had a good run first time out, and I didn’t think she’d be a maiden until now. She’s a well-bred mare and got a lovely ride from Josh.

“He’s with Gordon Elliott but comes down to me one day a week, and it’s great to give the young lads a chance.

“There is a mares’ point-to-point bumper at Tipperary coming up and she could go there.”

Best known for his handling of Corach Rambler in his primitive years, Duncormick-based John Walsh saddled a 1-2 in the mares’ winner of one.

Pillar to post

Owned by his wife Dympna, his Lynsey Larue (3/1 – 5/1) led from pillar to post under Troy Walsh, despite jumping slightly right at times.

In a share of second at the time, Elsa Bay dramatically ran out before the penultimate obstacle and, while Where’s Cato stayed on well away from the final fence, she was ultimately two lengths off the winner at the line.

“I can’t remember having a 1-2 before,” the successful handler remarked.

“She won like a good mare at Umma House, but we never got a bid for her when we brought her to Goresbridge. She’s for sale, but she won’t be going to a sale.

“She’ll probably go for a winner of two now.”

Jury Time (S. Curling): In rear for much of the journey and still at the tail of the field approaching two out, this Jukebox Jury grey finished out her race well and was a never-nearer fourth at the line.

Stepping forward nicely from her debut effort at Durrow, it’ll come as no surprise if she manages to make the breakthrough on her next start.