Alan Mahon

THE cold weather on Saturday last did little to assist the North Down Hunt attract a crowd but some good racing was on show. The opening Dennison Commercials Ltd four-year-old maiden finally got underway 20 minutes late following the late arrival of the doctor.

In what looked a strong race on paper with some horses having placed form on the card, it failed to disappoint with three horses within a length of each other at the last.

Tactical Manoeuvre was in the process of running his best race to date having a slight advantage at the last when coming to grief leaving the chasing pair of Bally Gilbert and Clondaw Bisto (3/1) to fight out the finish. The latter was slightly hampered by the faller but rallied under a strong drive from young claimer Shane Fitzgerald to deny champion jockey Derek O’Connor and Bally Gilbert by a neck in the photo finish.

Winning handler Michael Goff was not present but there were plenty of cheers in the winner’s enclosure. “We thought a lot of him last year but he just didn’t make it when we needed him to. Mick was very confident coming here today. He was working with the likes of Clondaw Cian and Bundoran who both won bumpers in England this month. It was great to see him win today and he will probably head to the sales,” remarked winning owner Derek Tobin. From Enniscorthy, Co Wexford Tobin also commented: “Shane gave him a brilliant ride, was very strong in the finish and is a valuable claimer. He definitely has a bright future.’’

CRAWFORD DOUBLE

The Crawford brothers Stuart and Ben recorded a double initiated by Suzy’s Music (5/1) in the Wilson Auctions maiden race for five-year-old and upwards mares. The Gamut mare was third on her return to points at Loughanmore following a spell racing on the track and returned a rather fortunate winner.

Yewtree Girl had jumped well under Barry O’Neill and was clear approaching the last when falling, leaving Suzy’s Music to come home six lengths clear of Bawnogues Bahri. “She was a fortunate winner today but sometimes you need some luck on your side. She is a capable mare and I thought she would have won before now. She will either go for a mares’ winners’ race or for a mares’ hurdle,’’ said winning handler Stuart Crawford. Suzy’s Music is out of a half-sister to Howaya Pet who was placed behind Numbersixvalverde in the Irish Grand National in 2005.

The double was completed in the following DBS maiden race for five-year-old geldings when Corrine McAlister’s Flemensfirth gelding Lorenzo (4/1) scored by a distance. The newcomer was always to the fore and led with a circuit to race. He was headed briefly after the second last by The Secret Mason but Lorenzo responded to lead by two lengths at the last.

The Secret Mason looked destined for second when falling at the last to leave Rhythm Of Sound to take the runner-up spot a distance back.

“That’s just as nice a horse as I have had. He jumped for fun, enjoyed it in front and showed a turn of foot when The Secret Mason challenged coming around the final bend. He has a wee instant gear and never seemed under pressure. I will need to speak to Corrine but he could possibly go for a bumper. I’d be surprised if I was able to hold on to him,” remarked Stuart. Lorenzo was purchased as a three-year-old in Tattersalls Derby Sale in 2013 for €17,500.

OWNER/RIDER

Owner/rider Johnny Creswell took the final Strangford Arms Hotel maiden race for six-year-old and upwards geldings with Important Moment (5/2) on only his second outing.

In a dramatic race, Ethan Edwards was 20 lengths clear when falling four from home and It’ll Do Rightly, who was returning from an absence of three years, was disputing when coming down at the last fence leaving the way clear for Important Moment to score by a distance from Thornleigh Henry. “That was a decent older maiden. My horse is very green and even though he is a six-year-old it was only his second run. He won well today despite the ground being against him and he could turn out to be a very nice horse,” commented winning handler David Christie.

Colin McBratney was another handler to come away with two winners at the Co Down venue when recent winners Marito and Quiet Account both scored under Noel McParlan. The former brought his tally to two for the season winning the Alucill open lightweight race with ease. The favourite (1/3 favourite) again showed his wellbeing and the outcome never looked in doubt as he took up the running on the run to the last.

The winning handler mentioned: “The plan is still Cheltenham. Noel said he didn’t enjoy the sticky going today. The plan was to go to Down Royal for the hunter chase at Christmas but if the ground were to come up sticky we will hold off until the Leopardstown hunter chase on Hennessy day. It’s a long time from Christmas to Cheltenham so that plan might suit better.’’

The McBratney/McParlan brace began in the Brian Horner Agricultural Contractor winners of three when Quiet Account (4/6 favourite) won for the third time this season from three completed starts in the colours of Frances Savage. The Jimble gelding won by three lengths from Boruing Up A Storm.

McBratney remarked: “He will take a well-earned break now until the spring when he is likely to return to points.’’

Last fence

THE last fence at Kirkistown caused havoc, in five of the races (all bar the open) there was a faller; four of those were in contention at the time.