YEATS is having his first runners in point-to-points this season but the early signs for the four-time Ascot Gold Cup winner are very positive.

At Durrow last Saturday, Red Hanrahan (6/1) made a big impression when powering 12 lengths clear of his well-bred rivals under Roger Quinlan.

This followed on from the victory of Shattered Love, an impressive winner at Lemonfield for Gigginstown House while Inspired Poet ran well for Andy Slattery when placed at Horse and Jockey.

Trained in Meath by Cork native Virginia Considine who had a four-year-old maiden winner disqualified at Rockfield earlier this season, there was no doubts this time once he crossed the line. Red Hanrahan quickened impressively clear and left rivals by Network (Baron Du Plessis), Beneficial (Broken Soul) and Westerner (Clondaw Westie) from three respected yards, in his wake.

The winner was bred by Cathal Ennis and is out of a point-to-point winning mare who bred The Snuffler and she is a half-sister to Vic Venturi. This winner will now be aimed at the sales at Cheltenham later this month where there is sure to be plenty of interest.

En Passe (8/1) made her career debut at the Pigeons but was pulled up quickly early in the race following a mistake. The daughter of Flemensfirth put that experience behind her to take the Connollys Red Mills and Rathbarry and Glenview Studs five and six-year-old mares’ maiden by two lengths from Gold Doubloons, under a positive ride from Eoin O’Brien, thus recording his fifth winner of the season.

En Passe is out of Asklynn, who took two hurdle races for the late John Fowler including a listed mares’ novice hurdle race at Fairyhouse.

To date she has bred Nom De Guerre, a dual track winner for Ben de Haan and Guts For Garters, a dual winner for Michael Hourigan before he was sold to the US where he took the coveted Maryland Hunt Cup in 2014. He is entered to repeat that win in the 2015 running which takes place on 25th April.

According to handler Myles Sunderland, she too will next be seen at the sales and with a pedigree of this strength is also sure to attract plenty of interest.

Rob James and Donnchadh Doyle managed three weekend winners beginning with a double here where Wicked Games and Our Reward both impressed.

The combination began by taking the Glenwood, Tullamore four-year-old mares’ maiden with the once raced Wicked Games (5/2).

The daughter of Flemensfirth had led for much of the contest but from the second last she went three lengths clear and once she cleared the last, it was all over as she went on to score a shade cosily by three and a half lengths back to the debutant Fearless Fantasy.

This success was not a surprise as on her debut at Lemonfield she had chased home the useful looking Shattered Love to finish 10 lengths back in third.

Wicked Games, a €7,000 purchase from the Goffs Land Rover sale in 2014, is out of an own-sister to Time On Your Side who scored three times on the level and once over hurdles for trainer Brian Nolan.

The Wexford raiders then went on to take the Brightwells Bloodstock five-year-old maiden race with Our Reward (2/1).

Having weakened from the last at Dromahane on his debut back in December, the son of Morozov showed great tenacity here to gamely hold off the favourite, Minella Daddy by a length and a half.

A private purchase by Doyle on behalf of the Monbeg Syndicate, he is out of Paddyeoin, an Insan-sired mare who took a point at Tinahely in 2004 when ridden by Colin Motherway.

The winner is a half-brother to Sir Abbot, a three-time winner who is trained by Robert Tyner for J.P. McManus. Both the Doyle winners are likely to be heading to the forthcoming Brightwells sales, who sponsored this particular race and the destination earmarked for most of the winners on this card.

It is the only meeting of the season which offered six maiden races as the next day, Sunday’s meeting, had a winners and open race.

Martin Cullinane was unlucky not to have seen Road To Gold win on his debut when falling at the last in contention at Rockfield on his debut in the autumn. Since then he has suffered further misfortune, after a good run at Cragmore (fifth) followed a fall at Belclare. Last Sunday saw him open his account at the fourth time of asking at Durrow and he did so in style by 10 lengths from S For Estuary back in second.

Having fallen on two of his starts to date, Road To Gold (3/1 co-favourite) put in an excellent round of jumping to take the Kepak and Tony and Teresa Walsh six-year-old geldings’ maiden, suggesting bad luck rather than any shortcoming has been his downfall thus far.

From the family of three time winner Wolver Run and four-time winner Rocket Run, he is now for sale.

The concluding race The Bridge Centre, Tullamore maiden race for seven and eight-year-old geldings saw the testing underfoot conditions eventually take their toll on the runners. With 11 runners going to post only two were able to complete the course. Applesandpierres (4/1), who was having his second start having finished 11 lengths third on his debut at Lingstown jumped to the front at the third last and quickly went clear under Mark Scallan.

He eventually crossed the line easing down with seven lengths to spare from Mia’s Milan. The winner is out of an unraced mare but is a half-brother to the dual hurdle winner Mister Chancer.

Gordon Doyle trains this winner for his girlfriend Janelle Kirwan. He is a half-brother to a dual winner for Alan King, Mister Chancer who was rated 120 over hurdles.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

FEARLESS FANTASY (Aidan Fitzgerald): He ran very well here on debut behind the more experienced Wicked Games and this Aidan Fitzergald-trained daughter of Oscar will be very hard to beat next time.