Alan Mahon

RACEGOERS at the North Down Hunt point-to-point at Kirkistown last Saturday appreciated what can only be described as one of the greatest point-to-points they are likely to witness in the open lightweight.

Valmy Baie (2/5 favourite), ridden by usual partner Barry O’Neill, looked to be left at the start as the other three runners made their way to the first fence. O’Neill only got his mount to start as the other runners, which included the former champion pointer Mr Bolt and the recently placed Clondaw Frisby, cleared the first fence.

The French-bred seven-year-old caught up with the rest of the field before halfway and went on to record a two-length victory from Mr Bolt.

Owned by bookmaker Ray Nicholas and trained by David Christie, the latter reported: “He has really proved himself there. He is a real quirky horse and has been in superb form since he came back from Grennan but he missed some work this week due to the frost. He will go to Down Royal on St Stephen’s Day and he is really entitled to be there.’’

Warren Ewing and Jamie Codd enjoyed success in both divisions of the Dennison Commercial’s four-year-old maiden initiated by Celebrity Status (2/1-3/1). The Scorpion gelding was having his fifth outing for his owner/trainer and showed a quick turn of foot before the last fence to prevail by three and a half lengths from Shane Donohue’s Freewheelin Dylan.

Celebrity Status was purchased by current connections as a three-year-old for €11,000 at Goffs, in June 2015. He is a half-brother to Clondaw Westie, a winner for Michael Goff at Boulta last December.

The winning handler commented: “All of my horses have been sick so we got the equine centre down and they found aspergillus in the yard. This has been treated and we can see a change in the horses how they are working at home and finishing their races better. He’s a really nice horse and he will go to the sales now.’’

The Winged Love gelding Plus One (5/1-4/1) provided the Codd/Ewing combination with a four-year-old double. The experience gained on his only outing at Necarne in May helped him as he jumped perfectly and finished two lengths in front of the well-supported newcomer Couer De Beauchene (9/4-6/4 favourite).

“This is a really nice horse and we have always thought a lot of him. He run at Necarne in May but ran flat and was disappointing and as he didn’t finish his race. I think he is capable of becoming a blacktype horse and he will go to the sales.’’ remarked the winning handler/owner.

Plus One is out of the unraced Exit To Nowhere mare Balwaney, a half-sister to multiple winners including six-time winner Balapour. He was purchased by Warren at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale in 2015 as a three-year-old for €16,500.

CRAWFORD WINNER

The Stuart Crawford-trained outsider Rainbow Bridge (3/1-5/1) improved from his previous form to win the Strangford Arms Hotel five-year-old geldings’ maiden for Denise Bailey.

Coopers Square (4/5) was sent off the money-on favourite following his second placing at Tattersalls Farm the previous week but he made a bad mistake three from home before falling at the last fence.

Bi Quini Tiep took the field along throughout the contest and was challenged at the last by the eventual winner Rainbow Bridge, under Ben Crawford, and they crossed the line to record a length victory.

The winning rider commented: “He is a nice horse and we have always thought a lot of him. He really enjoyed the strong gallop and could run again in a winners’ race.’’

Rainbow Bridge is by Exit To Nowhere and is a half-brother to Monlough Girl, a points’ winner for Brian Hamilton at the Loughanmore October meeting last year.

Placed twice this season from three attempts, the Jerry Cosgrave-trained Nickel was rewarded for her consistency winning the Grant Vortex NI mares’ maiden. There was strong market support for the Brian Hamilton-trained Bastante (9/4-1/2 favourite). However, she was denied by a short-head in a thrilling finish by the Presenting mare, Nickel, under Mark O’Hare.

“She opened up well on the run before the last fence and I thought she had them all in trouble but when she was challenged she battled well to the line. We just decided today that we would make the running if there wasn’t a good gallop. We might go to the track with her as she has a handicap mark. Ultimately she will become a broodmare for the owner Neville Reid,” said Cosgrave.

MCPARLAN DOUBLE

Noel McParlan also recorded a double at the Co Down venue initiated on his father’s As The Crow Flies (6/4-5/1) in the Wilsons Auctions two-winner race. The Presenting gelding won his maiden in fine style two weeks earlier at Loughbrickland.

Here he accounted for the two market principles Castle Clyde (1/1 favourite) and the other Loughbrickland maiden winner Incitatum (5/4). He looked to have the measure of Incitatum when he fell at the last and the winner scored comfortably by four and a half lengths from the favourite Castle Clyde.

The McParlan double was completed in the concluding older geldings’ maiden on the Daniel Fitzsimmons-trained Burton Hall (5/2-4/5 favourite). Placed on the track and at Stradbally in May for Shark Hanlon, the Golan gelding made all to win by a length and three-quarters from Pointview Gale.

“He improved from the last day when we dropped him in. We thought we might get an easy lead and it worked out perfect. I’d say he could go for a winners’ race or a hunter chase next,” stated a thrilled Fitzsimmons.

Reid success

Tullyglush was the first runner and winner for owner Neville Reid in May this year as she won a mares’ bumper in Perth for Gordon Elliott.

The next day Tullyhappy Lass won the mares’ maiden at Necarne for Jerry Cosgrace and Mark O’Hare, doubling his runner and winner ratio. Following Nickel’s success at Kirkistown, Reid’s horses have a 60% strike-rate, winning six times from 10 outings between points and on the track.

Bernice Stables’ 20th winner

FORMER point-to-point jockey Warren Ewing took both divisions of the four-year-old maiden at Kirkistown providing him with his 20th points’ success as a trainer. Based at his Bernice Stables in Templepatrick, Co Antrim, Ewing has produced many track winners including the Paul Nicholls-trained Sound Investment, Made In Germany, Brain Power and Formidableopponent.

One of his more recent sales’ graduates, Reigning Supreme, won on his debut in a novice hurdle at Newbury for Nicky Henderson recently, confirming the high quality stock that passes through Bernice Stables.