THE hallowed turf of Punchestown has been a happy hunting ground for Ted Walsh over the years, and Ellis Redding (4/1) provided the local handler with further joy in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Bought for €20,000 as a foal at the Tattersalls November National Hunt Sale, the bay victor was settled in fourth by Lee Shanahan, improving to dispute the lead before two out.

Travelling best and gaining an outright advantage approaching the final fence, he ultimately eased to a six-length win in the colours of Walsh’s wife Helen.

“He was a raw four-year-old the first day at Monksgrange. Derek [O’Connor] hunted him around, and a horse fell in front of him, so he pulled up. He said that he’s a nice horse and not to rush him,” the winning handler remarked.

“He’ll probably be sold now and will have no problem winning a maiden hurdle.”

Off the mark

Dedudefromhouston (6/4) also made the breakthrough on her second start, with this Colin Bowe-trained bay leading home three rivals in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Improving into a share of the lead two out, the Barry O’Neill ridden victor travelled best and gained an outright advantage approaching the last, stretching clear in the closing stages to score by eight lengths.

“She ran well the first day [third at Ballycrystal], Sean O’Rourke gave her a lovely spin and educated her,” Bowe explained.

“Barry said she showed a very good attitude today, and she has a big heart. Her owner [Leo McArdle] has been very, very lucky. He buys horses as foals from Bobby McCarthy, and they have been lucky for him. I don’t know what he is going to do with her now.”

WHILE out of luck in recent track starts, Pat Brogan’s Magic Sadler (4/6 - 5/4 favourite) returned to winning ways in the 12-runner open for novice riders.

Teaming up with regular pilot Emily Costello, the Pat Doyle-trained eight-year-old made all and, while pressed by Kings Jet from two out, he ultimately beat that rival by two and a half lengths.

There was a further 22-length gap back to Five Star Getaway in third, with Longhouse Poet the only other finisher.

“It was bad luck the last day [unseated at the first in Thurles], it was just one of those things. I’d say it would have been a penalty kick there,” Doyle reflected.

“He’s a class act in his own company. I left the tactics up to Emily, she’s after riding him plenty now and knows what to do. We’ll enter him for Cheltenham, but I don’t think he’ll go. I’d say we’ll run him in one more of these and then go to Cork for a maiden hunter chase at Easter.”

“If we do go to Cheltenham, it’ll only be for the day out. I don’t think he’d be capable of taking on Panda Boy. He’s the horse I think will win it.”

House retains the crown

The first two home also drew clear of the remainder in the third in the confined winners’ race, with Fountain House (1/2 - 4/6 favourite) claiming this contest for the second successive year.

Made to work hard for his win, the Eoin Mahon-ridden bay gained an outright advantage after two out and, while it appeared he would go on from there, he was instead pressed all the way to the line by Heartbreak Weather, with three-quarters of a length splitting them at the line.

“He wasn’t 100% after Down Royal [down the field on St Stephen’s Day], so we just twigged a few little things with him,” Ian McCarthy, who trains the eight-year-old for his wife Nikki, revealed.

“He had a little break after Down Royal, and this was a nice starting back point. I might go to Lingstown with him now for a banks race and then come back here for maybe the Ladies Cup and the Bishopscourt Cup.”

THE colours of Abbie O’Connor were carried to victory in the opening four-year-old maiden for a second successive year, with her County Prospect (6/4 - 9/4) impressively dismissing five rivals on debut.

Ridden and trained by O’Connor’s partner Brian Lawless, the €130,000 Tattersalls Derby Sale purchase was keen in the early stages, but it mattered little come the business end as he breezed to a facile 12-length win.

“We thought an awful lot of him; he has done everything very well from day one,” Lawless divulged.

“He was a dear store, he cost plenty of money, but it’s worked out as he’s a very nice horse. It was a serious performance, he jumped unbelievable and was very professional. He’s a very good horse I’d say, and he’ll be sold now all going well.”

Cause For celebration

Lawless had to settle for the runner-up berth on Sir Topham Hatt in the concluding six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden, with Cause For Comment (2/1 – 6/4 favourite) ultimately justifying favouritism under Pa King.

Owned and bred by Jackie Mullins and second at this fixture 12 months ago, the Sonny Carey-trained bay made all and kicked clear from two out, eventually coming home 12 lengths clear of his aforementioned rival.

“It’s brilliant to get a winner for Jackie. Jackie, Willie and Patrick have been very good to me and I’m just delighted to get a winner for them,” Carey enthused.

“He’ll go hunter chasing again now and might go back to Downpatrick, as he has unfinished business there! We might go for a winners’ of one in between, but we’ll see. He’s a lovely horse to have.”

Horse to follow

Heartbreak Weather (T. L. Cogan): In against older rivals, this chesnut six-year-old really put it up to the much more experienced Fountain House. Not helped by a slight peck on landing over the last, he ultimately went down by just three-quarters of a length and drew clear of the third. Still a maiden, he should have little difficulty in opening his account soon.