THE Clonmult/Dungourney meeting at Boulta last Sunday was all about one horse, Hawkhurst, who hinted that an extremely bright track career lies in wait by posting a scintillating debut success in the first division of the Hickey Bros Precast & Knockacool Gallops four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The Denis Leahy-trained Hawkhurst was sent off the 7/4 favourite, in part due to the fact that he’s an own-brother to Noel Meade’s former Grade 1 novice hurdle winner Muirhead.

The son of Flemensfirth always took the eye in running, even if his fencing wasn’t totally foot-perfect, as Cappa Doce led the nine runners at a decent pace. The eventual winner burst through the field after the third last of the 14 obstacles and he took up the running. With Corky Carroll looking around for non-existent dangers, the winner shot clear on the run to the final fence. Truckers Friend fell here when destined to finish a creditable second, so Thady Quil came through for the runner-up berth 12 lengths adrift of the successful bay, who was purchased on owner Nigel Collison’s behalf for €41,000 as a foal.

Leahy was absent, but the Charleville-based operator later remarked by telephone to his cousin Michael Moore: “It has taken a while for this fellow to come to himself and today was the plan. I’ve always viewed him as a nice horse. “

Hawkhurst is a seriously talented youngster with bundles of natural speed. He was hardly blowing when led back into the number one spot.

My Hometown’s breeder Godfrey Moylan from Danesfort saw his colours carried to success by another homebred Bigbadjohn (11/4) in the vintage second division of the Power Gold Label five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The Garrett Power-trained winner was always well positioned as Theflyingportrait and Sid Seven took the 10 runners along. While the winner didn’t always impress with his jumping, he still moved through to challenge Theflyingportrait with three obstacles remaining.

It was nip and tuck between the pair from there until the giant-sized Bigbadjohn, who is now on the market, touched down in front over the final fence and Declan Queally’s mount then asserted on the flat to thwart Theflyingportrait by three lengths, with a 12-length break back to the third-placed Sid Seven.

Queally completed a double aboard the John O’Callaghan-trained Silent Wish in the closing Rigney Bros, Dungourney five-year-old and upward mares’ maiden.

In a race with 17 starters, Majestic Preacher made what appeared to be the decisive move by edging ahead after the fifth last. Silent Wish (10/1) then came out of the pack to go fourth before two out and in a gripping three-way finish, the close relation to Boston Bob stormed to the front on the outer inside the final 50 yards to beat dead-heaters’ Majestic Preacher and Classic Palace by a half-length.

Silent Wish is owned and was bred by David O’Sullivan from Whitescross in partnership with his sister Dr Margaret O’Sullivan.

TWO WINNERS

Derek O’Connor likewise partnered two winners, the former champion experiencing the best possible start to proceedings aboard the well-supported Twenty Eight Guns in the opening Hurleys Supervalu, Midleton four-year-old mares’ maiden.

Twenty Eight Guns (2/1-5/4) was settled towards the rear of mid-division as Western Bay Beauty and Lee Side Lady vied for supremacy up front. The winner stylishly made her way into contention from the third last and she eased clear from two out to dismiss newcomer Callmarlan by seven lengths in the silks of Zoe Doyle from Holycross. Twenty Eight Guns, a first winner of the campaign for handler Sam Curling, is now likely to contest a mares’ winners contest.

O’Connor then captured the Leahys Open Farm, Lee Saw Company & Hennessy Plant Hire Ballinascartha winners of two with Wayupinthesky, who had finished second at the previous Boulta fixture on November 23rd. Here the Dr Joe O’Keeffe-owned and trained 4/6 shot (from 4/5) made his many supporters profusely sweat. The close relation to Sunday’s Navan winner Mount Colah went to the head of affairs after two out and he had to be called upon for maximum effort on the run to the final fence.

Wayupinthesky knuckled down bravely and he fought off Golden Crisp by a head with a four-length gap to the third-placed Shake It Up.

Donal Coffey’s runners always command respect and the veteran owner and trainer struck with seasonal debutant Queer Times in the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Queer Times (3/1), who showed promise on his two outings last term most notably when finishing fifth behind subsequent British novice hurdle winner Ballycoe, led from the third fence with Colin Motherway.

Runner-up Black Glen Boy went second from three out but the winner was too strong for Danny O’Connell’s charge, with the ultimate winning margin being an unextended six lengths.

Queer Times is now likely to be sold.

Owner Gigginstown House Stud was successful with embryonic chaser Just Cause in the second division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Just Cause (evens-4/5), having a first start for Mouse Morris, took up the running for Gerry Mangan setting out on the final circuit and the odds-on shot had just taken the measure of the pursuing Wade Harper when the pair both blundered at the final fence.

Just Cause was the faster away from the obstacle and defeated the staying-on Just Acting by two lengths, with a similar margin back to Wade Harper in third.

Pat O’Connor sent out his first winner of the season courtesy of wife Norma’s Grey Rio, who was returning from a 19-month absence, in the BMJ Consultants & Cliffords Bar Butcher & Supermarket adjacent hunts maiden.

The James Hannon-ridden Grey Rio had just overtaken Hawkers Son when Michael Kennedy’s charge, the longtime leader, fell at the final fence and the winning son of Cloudings then defeated Trust Me I’m A Dr by four lengths to put himself in line for a possible hurdling stint. Unfortunately, Hawkers Son’s rider Mikey O’Connor sustained a suspected fractured left collar-bone.

HORSES TO FOLLOW

CAPPA DOCE (FR) (J. Motherway): A son of Victory Note, this French-bred grey jumped boldly on his debut in the first division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden. While he ultimately faded from two out before finishing third, this fellow travels with plenty of class.