THE Co Limerick Foxhounds returned to Rathcannon on Sunday to stage their spring fixture. Although there was a concurrent fixture at Dromahane, there was no shortage of Co Cork-trained runners at the Limerick venue, and the first raider from the rebel county to strike was the William O’Brien-trained Thesilverbridle (5/1 – 6/1).

Thesilverbridle displayed a nice turn of foot in the closing stages of the five-and-six-year-old mares’ maiden to reel in runner-up Junior F on the run-in and win going away, providing rider Johnny Hurley with a first success of the campaign.

“Things hadn’t worked out on her first two runs to be honest, but she still gained good experience,” explained the Fermoy handler.

“Johnny must have been watching Paul Townend in the Grand National yesterday the way he won on her - she flew home. My sister Mary owns her, and the Halleys have the Grade 2 winner Senecia, who she’s a half-sister to. There are a couple of sales coming up in Ireland, so we’ll wait for one of those.”

Determined success

Ten runners faced the starter in the winners-of-two contest for novice riders, and it developed into a hard-fought finish with the Knockanohill maiden winner Rongoright (6/1 – 7/1) showing plenty of determination under Mark O’Flynn, staying on gamely from the back of the last to get up in the closing stages for Mitchelstown-based handler Jonathan Fitzgerald.

Owned by Araglen native P.J. O’Donoghue, the six-year-old son of Conduit was scoring on just his second start in winners’ company and is now set for a summer break.

“He’s a very consistent horse and I suppose it’s all down to the training; Johnny is very good at it,” commented O’Donoghue. “I’m also delighted for Mark; it’s been some week for him after riding his first track winner at Mallow last Sunday. We’re going to celebrate this now.”

Close finish

A strong field of 12 lined up for the concluding six-year-old-and-upwards maiden, which produced the finish of the day, as the judge was required to separate St Michael’s Well (5/1) and Tea In The Park following a photo finish, with the pair flashing past the post in unison.

In the end, it was Denis Ahern’s homebred who got the verdict, scoring on his third career start for the Dungourney-based handler.

Patiently ridden by Cal Shine, the six-year-old son of Diamond Boy travelled strongly into the contest before being ridden to challenge on the run to the last and driven out on the run-in, bravely holding on to score in the colours of his handler’s wife, Norah.

“I think he’ll be a real horse for handicap chasing in England,” Ahern suggested afterwards. “He’s every bit of 17hh and looks a big chaser in the making. He was also entered at Tattersalls, but Cal rang me during the week and told me to bring him on here, and we’re delighted we did.”

THE opening four-year-old mares’ maiden saw a field of seven go to post and resulted in a decisive success for the Mark Scallan-trained Double Annie (5/2 – 3/1), who ran out a 20-length winner and, provided the opening leg of a double on the card for rider Josh Berry.

Having tracked the early leader Central Stage throughout, the daughter of Ol’ Man River was sent to the front approaching the penultimate obstacle and quickly put the race to bed, stretching clear all the way to the line to carry the colours of her handler’s wife, Laura, to an emphatic victory.

“She went to Monksgrange and made a bad mistake halfway, but she came back with her tail on her back, and she was in great order coming here today,” Scallan revealed afterwards.

“She was bought for €6,000 at Tattersalls Ireland July Store Sale, and she’ll return to a sale now, possibly Tattersalls Cheltenham April Sale.”

Double up

Berry completed his second career double an hour later in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, again scoring decisively, this time aboard the Shane Roche-owned and trained homebred Ballyteige (4/1).

The son of Westerner tracked the leaders throughout, travelled strongly into the straight and went on with a six-length advantage at the penultimate fence. From there, he extended his lead and stayed on to the line, scoring by a widening 12-length margin on debut.

“That’s my first runner this year,” revealed the winning handler. “I only started training last year and had two winners last season. This fellow just took a bit of time to get going, but I expected him to do something like that.

“He was green in front and ideally would have wanted a lead for a little bit longer, but that’s just the way the race panned out. We’ll bring him on to the sales now.”

THE standout performance on the card came in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden, as newcomer Aladin Du Rheu (5/4 – 1/1 favourite) turned heads with an impressive six-and-a-half-length success on debut under John Gleeson, who was having his first ride for handler Pat Doyle.

Purchased for €60,000 by Highflyer Bloodstock on behalf of winning owners Jet Bloodstock Partnership from the Clifton Farm draft at Goffs Arkle Sale, the son of Choeur Du Nord justified market confidence in style when benefiting from a patient ride.

The winner was produced in the straight, quickly sweeping past the long-time leader and runner-up Contain Yourself on the run to the last, and was then driven out to score convincingly.

“I thought he was maybe more of a bumper horse than this, but he just jumps very well,” Doyle remarked afterwards. “I said to Jack, we’d run him today because we mightn’t get to run him in a fortnight’s time. He’s a very nice horse and goes really well. He’ll go to the Goffs Punchestown Festival Sale.”

Horse to follow

Contain Yourself (J. O’Donovan): is a newcomer son of Tirwanako who had been acquired for €12,000 at Tattersalls Ireland July Store Sale and made a most pleasing debut for connections, giving it his all from the front before he was eventually headed on the run to the last. He is sure to benefit from this initial experience and should have little trouble shedding his maiden tag in the near future.