THERE was plenty of excitement for owner Eileen O’Mahony’s brother Johnny O’Mahony as handler Declan Queally returned to the coveted number slot aboard outstanding mare Givemylovetorose in the winners of three at Sunday’s well-attended Kildorrery meeting at Rockmills Stud, staged under the auspices of the Duhallow Foxhounds.

Givemylovetorose (1/1 favourite), a wide-margin victor at Cragmore two weeks earlier, always took the eye in running close to the pace in this eight-runner contest as Back To Basics cut out the running and she easily made her way to the front past Dubai Quest after the fourth last of the 14 obstacles. Runner-up Bright Rhett emerged to go a clear second on the run to two-out, but with Marie Harding’s charge erring at this penultimate obstacle, Givemylovetorose effortlessly maintained the momentum to score by a widening five lengths.

Givemylovetorose came back to a popular reception, which wasn’t at all surprising as the daughter of Westerner was recording her fourth success of the campaign (from just six starts) and Queally indicated that she will now be targeted at the Gain Mares’ Final in Ballynoe later this month.

VINTAGE RENEWAL

Michael O’Sullivan had an afternoon to savour as he recorded an initial career three-timer with the Lombardstown native signing off aboard Macs Legend in a vintage renewal of the open lightweight.

The 11-year-old Macs Legend (5/1), a dual hunter chase winner last term, stylishly made his way to the front after the third last and he was always too strong for runner-up Fenno’s Storm from the final fence with one and a half lengths ultimately separating the pair.

Handler Gerry Kelleher, who was also standing as a bookmaker at the meeting, indicated that the Shane Prenderville-owned Macs Legend will now contest this month’s Tetretema Cup Hunters Chase at Gowran Park. Connections also hope to run the son of Blueprint in the Cork hunters chase over Easter.

The 19-year-old O’Sullivan instigated his hat-trick by landing the second division of the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden aboard his uncle Eugene O’Sullivan’s Getaway Totherock.

The Templencarriga runner-up Getaway Totherock (7/4 favourite) overcame a couple of early jumping errors by making her way into contention from four-out and she surged past Ulterior Motives from the last to triumph by a half-length in what was the closest finish of the afternoon. A racecourse campaign is now probable for Getaway Totherock, who is both owned and bred by the her handler.

TREBLE

Teenager O’Sullivan duly brought up his treble aboard the Paul Cashman-trained Coole Lion, who pulled up on his only previous start at Boulta on January 20th, in the five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts maiden for novice riders.

The five-year-old Coole Lion (7/2), representing Cashman’s mother Catherine but in whom long-standing points supporter Mick Leahy from Castlelyons also holds an interest, led from the third fence.

While closely attended to by the mare Honest To Goodness from three-out, the winner was in no mood to be denied. He valiantly maintained the tempo in the closing stages to keep Honest To Goodness, who also finished second in this same race last year, at bay by two and a half lengths.

Cashman, who was particularly effusive in his praise of O’Sullivan, suggested that Coole Lion is now likely to be offered for sale.

Arthur’s Baby justified the lengthy trek from owner/trainer Mark McNiff’s Co Sligo stables by bringing off a monster punt from 8/1 into 4/5 in the first division of the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden. The physically-imposing Arthur’s Baby, who made a promising debut by coming fourth at Necarne last season, was always merely in cruise-control under Johnny Barry and she made the best of her way home from three-out to beat Robert Tyner’s newcomer Emily Roebling by two lengths.

The pair returned 12 lengths clear of the third-placed Cardy. McNiff disclosed that the Oscar-sired Arthur’s Baby, a half-sister to Grade 3 novice hurdle winner Tavern Times whom he acquired at the 2017 Fairyhouse August Sale, will now be prepared for a tilt at a bumper.

INITIAL WINNER

Philip Fenton sent out an initial winner of the season courtesy of clear form-choice Groody Rover in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Groody Rover (6/4 favourite) stepped up from his third-placed effort at Ballyvodock three weeks earlier by making all the running and the son of Milan stormed clear from three-out with local Mitchelstown native Eoin O’Brien to dismiss Broomfield Boy by 12 lengths in the colours of the three-member Steeplechasers Club.

It’s probable that Groody Rover, whom connections bought privately as a yearling, will be seen in new colours when running again.

The Mikey O’Connor-trained/ridden newcomer Aughnacurra King arrived from well off the pace to collect the closing six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden, the race that attracted the biggest field of the afternoon, 13 runners.

Aughnacurra King (10/1), who did well to avoid being brought down by the fall of Rob Royal four-out, moved ever closer from the third last and he took the measure of long-time leader Kildrum on the flat to oblige by one and a half lengths. Stradbally-born owner/breeder Ger Cummins’ brother Tom dedicated the victory of Aughnacurra King to the pair’s sister Mary Weldon, who sadly died in March 2018.

It’s worth recalling that the white-faced Aughnacurra King shares his sire, Tajraasi, with former 132-rated hurdler Aughnacurraveel whom the aforementioned Tom Cummins sent out to win five races on the racetrack.

Kildorrery crowds

THERE was an excellent crowd in attendance at Kildorrery on Sunday and this can be attributed in part to the host of non-racing activities that the committee had organized.

There was a dog show with seven different classes and the meeting’s honorary secretary Marie Harding revealed that there were 20 contestants in one particular class.

There was plenty of additional entertainment for the younger generation as there were athletics races for children and also welly-throwing plus an egg and spoon race.

There were also best dressed competitions. Noel Sheahan won the award for the best dressed man and Frankie Lucey was the best-dressed child. Ellen Martin of Fab Fillies was on hand to sponsor and judge the best dressed lady with the prize going to Maria Stack.

The Kildorrery meeting has long since been synonymous with Rockmills Stud. The fixture was first staged on the Vaughan family farm back in 1979 with the late Donie Vaughan and his wife Noreen being terrific hosts over the years.

Unfortunately, Mrs Vaughan (nee Casey) passed away last August and it was entirely appropriate that there was a photograph of her on the inside back cover of the race card leading up her father Michael Casey’s Golden Glen at the 1948 Kildorrery meeting at Farahy.

Deepest condolences are extended to Mrs Vaughan’s three children, Mike, Ed and Edwina.

HORSES TO FOLLOW:

KILDRUM (B. McCarthy): This son of Milan made an excellent return to action in the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden as he was only collared by Aughnacurra King from the last, having bravely tried to make all the running. The bay, who was placed in points last season behind such smart sorts as Press Conference and Champagne Well, should have little difficulty in going one better over the coming weeks.