Neil O’Donnell

THE Eugene O’Sullivan-owned/trained Chris’s Dream brought Sunday’s Boulta meeting to life, justifying favouritism on his points debut in the Hickeys Bros Precast & Knockacool Gallops four-year-old geldings’ maiden, the race that attracted the biggest field of the day in 13 runners.

Chris’s Dream had the benefit of a previous run when finishing a respectable 12th in the Goffs Land Rover bumper at the Punchestown Festival in the spring. That ensured that he went off the well-supported 5/4 favourite from 3/1 and Gerry Mangan elected to send the son of Mahler to the front at the second of the 14 obstacles.

The market leader took the field along at a cracking pace and he had previous dual runner-up Jack Devine as his closest pursuer throughout. On the run between the third and second last fences, Coolanly and Duhallow Lad also arrived on the scene.

Louis Archdeacon’s Duhallow Lad was in the process of mounting his challenge when falling two out and fellow newcomer Coolanly, trained by Tom Keating, soon had no more to offer in third spot.

Jack Devine still held every chance at the final fence except that Martin Hassett’s charge was brushed aside on the flat as the Millwood Stables inmate asserted to score by five and a half lengths with Coolanly giving notice of ability by returning a further 15 lengths adrift in third spot.

O’Sullivan, who also started off Chris’s Dream’s half-brother Scorpiancer (now a top jumps horse in the US) in points said: “This horse was bought at the Goffs Land Rover Sale last year. He has pace, he stays, jumps and gallops. He was just a bit weaker earlier in the year.’’

Donal Coffey’s well-related homebred newcomer Copper West impressed by landing a somewhat grief-stricken Powers Gold Label five-year-old geldings’ maiden, where four out of the 11 contestants fell.

The Westerner-sired Copper West (7/2) always took the eye in running with Darragh Allen in a race which saw Allannah’s Gold leading until coming to grief four out. The eventual winner moved ever closer from three out and he took command coming to the second last.

Runner-up Lively Article couldn’t raise his effort on the flat and he was still some six lengths adrift at the post, the pair being the only finishers as The Dawn Man exited at the final fence when looking like finishing a creditable third on his career debut.

Copper West is out of a track winning half-sister to Give Me A Copper, who Midleton-based Coffey sold for £260,000 at the inaugural Goffs UK Sale at Aintree this April after he won an Athlacca maiden point and a Cork bumper.

CULLINANE WINNER

Another owner/trainer to strike was Martin Cullinane, who also had runners at Sunday’s other meeting in Borris, as he sent out clear form choice Lostin A Fog to collect the opening Hickeys Supervalu, Midleton four-year-old mares’ maiden.

Lostin A Fog showed plenty of talent by chasing home Timeforben on her return to action at Dromahane last month and the daughter of Mahler was sent off the 2/1 favourite here.

She was bounced out in front by Ray Barron and, although frequently jumping right-handed, she gamely asserted from two out. At the post, she had four lengths to spare over John Lehane’s promising first-timer Deise Gold. Lostin A Fog is now likely to take her place in a bumper.

Dick Lalor’s newcomer Stupid Cupid similarly impressed by making all in the closing Rigney Bros, Dungourney five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Front-running tactics once again worked the oracle here as Stupid Cupid (3/1) recorded a pillar-to-post success in the hands of Pa King. The winning five-year-old, representing Lalor’s wife Anne, gave a polished display of fencing and she threw an excellent leap at the third last when the race was really beginning to take shape.

She was well in command from two out and runner-up Ballytier Princess closed as the successful daughter of Beneficial was eased into the last. Stupid Cupid was simply in a different league to her rivals as she ultimately scored by five lengths in the style of a progressive staying prospect who is likely to be seen in new colours when running again.

Rocking Dj, purchased by owner/trainer Ivor Kingston at Goresbridge sales in July, gained due reward for his consistency by landing the BMJ Consultants & Cliffords Bar five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts’ maiden in the hands of Declan Queally.

The previously four-times placed Rocking Dj, (7/4) had just moved through to overtake the long-absent Ben Again when Garrett Ahern’s charge capsised at the final fence and the winner was then left clear to beat A Bottle Of Bubbly by 12 lengths.

Kingston, who sent out Viaduct to win five points and a Wexford hunter chase during 2002/03, is now likely to aim Rocking Dj at the Limerick hunter chase over Christmas.

The last fence also played a crucial part in the Leahys Open Farm & Leesaw Company winners of two as Rock Solid was some five lengths clear and well in command when cruelly falling here. Her demise enabled another mare Back To Basics, a seasonal debutante trained by Larry Murphy for his first cousin Patrick Walsh, to eclipse Singing Banjo by eight lengths under John Barry at odds of 8/1.

Back To Basics won her maiden at Murphy’s local Knockanard circuit in February, but she’s perhaps better than this performance indicates. Thankfully, the Alison Murphy-trained Rock Solid was led away unscathed following her fall.

Promising Allen

DARRAGH Allen recorded his first success of the season aboard Copper West. The 22-year-old Allen hails from Araglen and he rides out for both Terence O’Brien and Liam Burke. No doubt he will be receiving more opportunities.

Gallops open

MICHAEL Griffin disclosed during racing that he will be opening his Knockacool Gallops outside Dungourney to the public on Wednesday December 21st. The facility will be available from 8am onwards and all donations will be going to the Cork and Waterford Injured Jockeys’ Fund.