ROB James supplemented his opening-day double at Toomebridge with victory in the opening Dennison Commercials four-year-old maiden, on the Donnchadh Doyle-trained Buck’s Bin’s (1/1– 9/4).
Placed behind the subsequent four-time bumper winner Longhouse Sale on his debut, the Khalkevi gelding led for much of the contest and produced an exhibition of jumping from the front.
Purchased by Rachel O’Neill for €36,000 at the Derby Sale last year and now racing in the colours of the Monbeg Syndicate, the good-looking four-year-old had enough in reserve to hold off the Colin Bowe-trained Blackstairs Lad by a length.
Buck’s Bin’s is from a high-class family which includes the former eight-time Grade 1 winner Big Buck’s, as well as Buck’s Dream and Buck’s Bank, to name just a few.
Doyle commented: “The form worked out very well from his first run and he really did it well today. He jumped brilliantly throughout and he was in good form coming into the race.”
Presented at the Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale in May following his debut, Buck’s Bin’s remained unsold when reaching £38,000, but following this victory, Doyle indicated he is likely to return to the sales ring.
IMPRESSIVE
The most impressive winner of the afternoon was the Johnny Kinsella-trained Summons To Court (4/1 – 11/2) in the final novice riders six-year-old and upwards maiden.
Falling when in contention on her debut almost two years ago, the Court Cave mare was unsuccessful in three attempts on the track, before her successful return between the flags.
Taking up the running going out the final time under James Kenny, the pair held a six-length advantage at the penultimate fence before going clear to score by 25 lengths at the finish, from the favourite, Pegase Amour.
Winning handler Johnny Kinsella remarked of the winner, who was knocked down for €3,000 at Tattersalls in 2014: “She’s a very good mare, but has had her problems and she will improve greatly for the run today.
“James did everything right and judged the race well. We will see how she is tomorrow and decide where to go next.”
Former-champion rider Derek O’Connor recorded his first winner of the season on the Sam Curling-trained Longhouse Music (5/1 – 2/1) in the John McGovern sponsored open race.
Clearly a progressive type last season, the John Duggan-owned and bred mare received an astute ride from O’Connor letting Barry O’Neill reluctantly make the running on the favourite, Eddies Miracle.
Taking up the running around the halfway point, the daughter of Gamut went-on before the last and recorded a three-and-a-half-length victory.
The winning handler reported: “Derek gets on well with her and gave her a great ride. She’s a lovely mare and she will stick point-to-pointing for the season.”
The Andrew Slattery-trained The Crafty Touch (4/6 –1/1F) improved from her second-placed effort behind Oscar Light at Toomebridge last week to take the Northern Excavators Ltd five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.
Making much of the running under Roger Quinlan, the contest never really looked in doubt as the Touch Of Land-sired mare fenced well and recorded an easy six-length victory from Largy Princess.
Willie Slattery commented for his absent brother, stating: “She had a lovely run last week and has improved plenty from that. We think a lot of her and expect her to improve again. She jumped great today and we could head for a winner’s race now.”
WINNING DEBUT
The newcomer Peter’s Portrait (5/1 – 8/1) made a winning debut in the Wilsons Auctions five-year-old geldings’ maiden for the Philip Rothwell stable.
An outsider in the market, as the money came for the Donnchadh Doyle-trained Reallyradical, Harley Dunne schooled the newcomer around in the rear before easily working his way into contention at the second last.
Dunne’s mount picked up to lead before the last and scored by a length and a half from the Mervyn Torrens-trained Slumdogmillionaire.
Owned by Tom Power and his partner Annette Lawlor from Bunclody, Co Wexford, Peter’s Portrait is a half-brother to points winner Downbythestrand.
Toomebridge winner Décor Irlandais was sent-off a short-priced favourite to win his second race of the season in the winner of one, but he fell at the penultimate fence leaving Ben Crawford’s mount Ballyhowne (3/1 – 4/1) with the advantage.
The winner, to his credit, stayed on well to win by four lengths from Colin Bowe’s Castletown winner, Lively Beat.
A maiden winner at Portrush last year, Ben deployed the same tactics on this occasion, settling his mount in the rear before making his move on the final circuit.
Johnny Irwin, husband of owner by Billie-Jo from Beragh, Co Tyrone, remarked: “He disappointed us the last day and we put him out for a break for three months or so and he has come in a lot stronger, which he has been showing us in his work.”
Heaping praise on the ride given by Ben, Johnny added: “Today was the plan and Ben gave him a great ride from out the back. He’s a very buzzy horse but Ben gets on well with him and got him settled well.”
Winning rider Ben Crawford indicated that as Johnny loves this scene, he will stay pointing or possibly go for a hunter chase.
HORSE TO FOLLOW:
HEAVEY (M. E. Doyle): The Trans Island gelding made notable headway in the closing stages of the four-year-old maiden and really finished out his race well.
Good conditions
SARAH Dawson, joint-Master with the Iveagh Foxhounds, was quick to thank the work of clerk of the course Alan (Ali) Watson, remarking: “Ali has worked around the clock to ensure the course is in great condition and it’s near perfect ground. I think the track is the best it’s ever been.”
Debut success
TOM Power was elated to see his son of Portrait Gallery, Peter’s Portrait, come home in front. The Wexford-based farrier remarked: “He was weak in the spring and Harley (Dunne) schooled him and told us to let him out for the summer and he has come back a different horse. It was his first run today so Harley gave him plenty of space at the back and he came into the race well.
“I know he is a good horse but didn’t know what to expect first time out. The plan was to give him an education so I’m not sure what we will do now but we have plenty of options. He could head to the sales.”
First winner
FORMER jockey Johnny Kinsella recorded his first win as a trainer with Summons To Court. With six pointers in training, the Wicklow native has his string in good order as Niamh’s Oscar was second at Loughrea on Sunday. As a jockey, Johnny was based with Denis Murphy and rode five winners in points and was also successful in a Kilbeggan bumper on Runyon Rattler in May 2015 for Philip Rothwell.