THE first Cork and Waterford meeting of the season took place at Dromahane on Sunday and Barry O’Neill, fresh from his double at Moira the previous afternoon, dominated the Muskerry Foxhounds fixture by partnering a three-timer.

The reigning champion opened his account aboard Colin Bowe’s newcomer Starevitch in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden. East Harlem got into a lovely rhythm in front and he was pursued by the eventual winner setting out on the final circuit.

Starevitch edged ahead before the second last of the 13 fences and a swift leap at this penultimate obstacle ensured that he could be called the most likely winner thereafter. Although runner-up Earth Furies finished with a flourish, he was still one length adrift of the son of Sinndar at the line. East Harlem looks the part and returned a further three-quarters of a length adrift in third.

Nice ground

“He’s a lovely straightforward horse that liked the nice ground and he will now go to some of the sales,” said Bowe’s representative Craig Casey of the Milestone Bloodstock Ltd-owned Starevitch, a €65,000 graduate of the 2019 Goffs Land Rover Sale – a half-brother to the dam of Douvan.

Bowe likewise supplied the Ballindaggin native with his middle success courtesy of Gallow Ford in the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. Young Rich took the 10-runner field along until giving way to newcomer Beers And Tears after three out.

Edged ahead

The patiently ridden Gallow Ford was soon vying for the lead and he edged ahead coming to the last. The runner-up Vee Dancer hadn’t read the script and, in a ding-dong tussle to the line, it was the Milestone Bloodstock Ltd-owned bay who came out on top by a head in what was the closest finish of the day.

Beers And Tears secured the minor honours, a further four lengths adrift. Gallow Foud, a creditable fourth on his initial outing at Borris House in March, will now be aimed at a winners’ race.

The Robert Tyner-trained Dangan Des Champs brought up the O’Neill hat-trick by winning an eventful five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden, the race that attracted the biggest field of the afternoon.

The drama started when Imitation Game fell a few strides after the sixth fence and this third-last jump was then bypassed on the final circuit.

The runners were waved around the obstacle, but confusion reigned with the majority of contestants bypassing the obstacle on the outer with some opting to go the inner route.

Our Pocket Rocket and Dazzling Glory were among those that bypassed the fence on the inside. They did however, have to veer sharply inwards, losing valuable momentum.

The once-raced Dangan Des Champs went down the outer and she took command approaching two out to beat former track performer As High Say by three lengths in the colours of Galwegian Michael Hoare.

There was no alteration to the judge’s placings at the subsequent enquiry, but the race was referred to the Appeals and Referrals Committee of the IHRB for further investigation.

Thedancingfarrier powers past rivals

DANGAN Des Champs’ half-brother Heydour played a major starring role in the winners-of-two contest, having picked up the running at the third last from the pace-setting Crutches Lad. Thedancingfarrier closed to be on the heels of the aforementioned pair approaching the final fence.

Although erring here, Thedancingfarrier increased his effort on the flat by powering past Heydour over 25 yards out to score by a length, and there was a similar margin back to Crutches Lad in third.

Thedancingfarrier was ridden by Richie Kiely, the seven-year-old is trained by another Kiely sibling in Cappagh-based Paul and he’s owned and bred by elder brother Tom.

Thedancingfarrier will go for another winners’ race.

The Con O’Keeffe-trained Kilbarry Leader impressed in a victorious debut in the four-year-old mares’ maiden. Kilbarry Leader was always well positioned under Chris O’Donovan as Ambitious Getaway held sway up front.

The winner took command between the final two fences and she asserted on the flat to dismiss fellow debutant Ballybough Mary by four lengths.

O’Keeffe suggested that his wife Claire’s Kilbarry Leader could be sold.

Governor takes command

JOE Ryan fares well with his small string and the Co Clare handler sent out his son Josh’s Yes Governor to oblige under long-standing ally James Hannon in the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Yes Governor led from the third fence and he seemed to have a battle on when Pat Doyle’s Flamenco De Kerser loomed up menacingly from three out.

The winning son of Scorpion was in no mood to be denied though and he mastered Flamenco De Kerser on the run-in to eclipse Pat Doyle’s charge by a half-length.

Ryan will now offer Yes Governor for sale.

Just two horses lined up in the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden with the sweet-jumping Reinvent, runner-up on his two outings last season, making virtually all under Pa King in this slowly run event to account for Sleight Of Hand by an eased-down length.

Handler Sam Curling said that Reinvent, representing Margaret O’Meara from Borrisokane, will now run in a winners’ race.

Horse to follow

Vee Dancer (C.W. Fennessy): This newcomer by Morozov, a three-quarters brother to six-time track winner Perfect Man, made the more experienced Gallow Ford pull out all the stops. He should prove very hard to beat the next day.