THE Clonmel Harriers were forced to contend with attritional conditions at Turtulla on Sunday as strong winds and rain worsened steadily as the day progressed, creating challenging conditions for all in attendance.

One runner who proved impervious to the testing conditions was Tumuch (5/1), who made all the running under Joey Dunne to land the winners-of-one contest by four lengths and provide handler Jamie Dwyer with a landmark first career training success.

The French-bred was returning to the pointing sphere, having previously made an impressive debut in a four-year-old geldings’ maiden at Lingstown in December 2023.

He jumped soundly throughout and maintained his advantage in the straight, staying on strongly in the closing stages to fend off the well-supported favourite Sharp As Glass.

Dwyer said: “He’s been through Gordon’s, and I got him as I know his previous owner, Eamon Waters. It was just a case of freshening him up and changing his routine.

“I brought him through stubble fields and gave him plenty of beach work and things like that. I got him fit without him even knowing he was getting fit.

“I’m a Ward Union Hunt man, and Tumuch will head to their meeting at The Folly next month for a winners-of-two.”

Another son of Buck’s Boum to strike shortly afterwards was Le Boum Retourne (2/1 - 5/2), owned and trained by Willie Murphy, who made the breakthrough in the concluding older geldings’ maiden, having placed on two autumn starts.

Ridden close to the pace throughout, Pa King tracked a wider course to make best use of the deteriorating ground before moving into the lead approaching the third-last fence.

The six-year-old ultimately coasted home by 10 and a half lengths, clear of the only two other finishers in what proved to be a casualty-stricken contest.

“He’s a grand horse,” Murphy commented. “We might look towards a maiden hunters’ chase as a longer-term target, but if we could sell him in the meantime, that would be ideal. His owners are local to me - Joe Wall from Rathvilly and John Byrne from Tullow.”

Belharbour next

A field of seven went to post for the ladies’ open, which excluded graded winners, and it was once again a former Elliott-trained runner who came to the fore, this time in the shape of Magic Tricks (6/1 - 7/1), who upset some more fancied opposition to score in good style for handler Paurick O’Connor.

Having formerly carried the green and gold of J.P. McManus, the 10-year-old is now owned by the Three Dudes Syndicate and was making his third start in open company for connections.

Settled in mid-division by Nicole Lockhead-Anderson, the French-bred gelding travelled strongly into the straight and mounted his challenge to lead before the final fence. He stayed on well up the run-in to account for Ballyphilip by three and a half lengths. “He’ll go to Belharbour next month, as that’s been his target for a while,” revealed O’Connor.

“Sam Curling recommended Nicole to ride him today and it’s great to give her a winner - she’s a classy girl. Michael Hyde highly recommended this horse to us as well, and I’d like to give him a special mention of thanks.”

Sales ring beckons for Ivana D’Alco

ONLY three of the 11 runners completed the five-year-old-and-upwards mares’ maiden, with Ivana D’Alco (5/4 - 2/1 favourite) proving the beneficiary of positive, front-running tactics for Jonathan Fogarty.

Having made all and fenced well, the French-bred daughter of Ivanhowe was driven out on the run-in to score by six lengths from debutant Payslip, initiating a double for champion rider Barry O’Neill.

Fogarty’s brother Mikey said: “She ran too free on her first start at Loughanmore, so we put earplugs in her and rode her a bit differently today.

“She’s a real track mare, a speedy type. She was bought from the Bleahens at Goffs Arkle Sale for €52,000 and hopefully we’ll get her back to another sale again in the coming weeks.”

Faultless Foxy

O’Neill completed his brace aboard the Mouse Morris-owned and trained Foxy Rock (1/1 - 5/4), who proved too strong for his three rivals in the five-year-old-and-upwards adjacent maiden.

A half-brother to the five-time track winner Foxy Jacks, the eight-year-old son of Mahler had finished runner-up on his previous start at Borris House and produced a faultless display of jumping on this occasion, ultimately being driven out to a four-and-a-half-length success over favourite, Coolcullen.

“He had a very good run the last day and was only narrowly touched off,” explained the winning rider. “He jumped great today, stayed on well to the line, and I’d imagine he’ll have no issue stepping up into winners’ company.”

Well-named

A field of 12 made their way to post for the opening five-year-old geldings’ maiden, which developed into a strongly-run contest and, at the business end, it was Game Theatre (4/1 - 6/1) who showed an admirable attitude to come with a renewed effort on the run to the final fence.

He stayed on resolutely under an inspired James Coffey to score by five lengths from Annual Invitation for Butlerstown, Co Waterford handler Paul Power.

“I fancied him on his debut run at Dromahane and he’s improved for that initial experience,” Power said of his mother Bride’s winner afterwards. “I bought him at the Goffs Arkle Sale and he has a good pedigree, being out of a King’s Theatre mare.

“I think he’s a nice horse going forward and I’d imagine he’ll be for sale now. James comes into me one day a week and he’s a good lad who works hard, listens, and deserves his chances.”

Horse to follow

Payslip (L. J. Murphy): This daughter of Workforce out of a Beneficial mare made a most pleasing debut for connections. The Jerry Cunningham-bred five-year-old jumped soundly and travelled well before staying on in the straight and ultimately only fell short to a more experienced winner. She should have learned plenty from this initial experience and is sure to come forward from the outing. She will be a threat to all wherever she may turn up next.