THE opening fixture of the 2025/26 season delivered an enjoyable day of action in the Saffron county with the four-year-old mares’ maiden easily captured by Walkinthemournes (2/1), who grasped the opportunity after her main market rival, Sky Blue Ribbon, departed at the fourth last.
A graduate of the Goffs Arkle sale, this debutant cost €20,000 as a store, and she was well positioned behind the leaders in this race.
In the colours of Mary Turley, she jumped to the front at three out, leaving her only remaining rival without fuss.
The daughter of Walk In The Park cruised home to score by six lengths, giving Paddy Turley and Declan Lavery the first of their two winners on the card.
“She was good, her homework was good enough to win,” Lavery said.
“We thought she might’ve been a bit green, but she won easily. She’s good to jump. We went a good enough gallop in the ground too. She’ll be for sale now.”
Ultimate success
The second leg of the double for the Downpatrick-based pair came in the form of He’s Ultimate (5/4) in the concluding older geldings’ maiden. For only a three-runner contest, this was arguably the most enthralling race of the day as the duo locked horns after jumping the third last.
From that point, it was nip and tuck between the Champs Elysees gelding and Philip McBurney’s newcomer Dunaird. Ultimately, experience came to the fore as Gordon Elliot’s former inmate jumped the last fluently and was able to hold on close home by a length.
“He’s a brilliant jumper, but I didn’t think I’d be riding him in an older maiden when he was first with us,” Lavery stated.
“We thought he was a proper horse, but he’s only 60% fit there today, so hopefully he’ll win winners’ races. We can maybe then look towards hunter chases. He’s a lot of class, and he will improve for that today.”
Rocking and rolling
The four-year-old geldings’ maiden was captured by the once-raced David Connors-owned Eastern Rock (11/2 - 7/1) for Sam Curling. The €30,000 foal was settled in mid-division before being left in the lead after the fall of the short-priced favourite Werweiss.
The son of Order Of St George quickly opened a five-length advantage approaching the straight, and he galloped on remorselessly. Although David Doyle’s mount made a mistake at the last, he was still able to coast home for a 10-length success with Fortis Et Liber back in second.
The rider said: “He ran in Loughrea last year and he was just a bit green, and everything happened a bit quickly for him, but the softer ground today meant he was always in his comfort zone.
“He jumped brilliantly the whole way apart from the last, where I just wanted to get from A to B. He travelled well and quickened up from the back of the last. Riding for Sam Curling is a big help, they’re all so straightforward. I’d imagine he’s for sale now.”
LOCAL handler Gerald Quinn teamed up with Dara McGill for a double of their own, in spite of some misfortune for the pair with two of their fancied horses falling earlier in the card. The first of these victors came in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden with Clough Clouds (5/1 - 9/2).
This grey son of Cloudings raced close to the pace throughout and made his bid for glory after the third last. Owned by Mervyn Adams, he picked up the initiative with a slick leap at the second last, but was still pressed by West Of Idaho down to the last, where they took off as one. Unfortunately, David Christie’s charge lost his footing on landing and fell, leaving the eventual winner to be pushed out up the run-in to beat the staying on Karma De Cotte by three quarters of a length.
Quinn stated: “He had the experience. We probably ran him too many times last year. Armagh probably took a lot out of him, and running him back here in Toome was probably too soon after that, but sure, the form was solid enough there today. He’ll probably go for a winners’ race now.”
Easy win
The well-backed Weespoof (11/8 - 1/1 favourite) made no mistake in doubling his tally as he scored by an eased-down nine lengths for owner Philip McBurney.
Making virtually all, the six-year-old started to turn the screw from the top of the hill, leaving his rivals trailing in his wake. The Diamond Boy gelding ran out a ready victor and should be capable of winning once again up in grade.
“Got a fall last year in Portrush at the start of the season, which knocked his confidence a bit,” Quinn explained. “He’s a lot sounder horse now than he used to be as well, and the break has done him the world of good.”
THE five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden produced an exciting finish as Walk In The Clouds (1/1 favourite) rallied to get up in the shadows of the post denying Quinn and McGill a treble on the day in the process.
A recent acquisition by Cian Collins, this mare was purchased for £6,000 at Goffs. She had them all on the stretch using her jumping to her benefit, but a mistake at the last handed the advantage to the closing Crazy Nancy.
However, to credit this daughter of Walk In The Park, she battled gamely when headed and can progress once again from this success. The trainer said: “She’s a real galloper. It’s great to get her head in front and we’ll go for a winner’s race now with her. She jumps well and stays going.”
Horse to follow
Werweiss (Gerald Quinn): This son of Jeu St Eloi hails from a predominantly flat pedigree, which would explain the high cruising speed he displayed whilst giving a bold showing out in front. A well-backed favourite, he was ultimately too long at the fourth last, before gravity took over and ended his race.