Margie McLoone

WARNE will bid to retain his Foxhunters’ crown at Aintree next month on the back of a facile success in the Morrow Tyres open at Kirkistown last Saturday.

Robert Waley-Cohen’s Bob Back gelding was held up in his preparation over the winter and, while making his seasonal debut at the same venue as in the 2013/14 campaign, this meeting came two months later. The 1/5 favourite, who faced only three opponents, made all the running under Deckie Lavery to beat Well Chosen by one and a half lengths with the other pair well adrift.

Brian Hamilton was a much relieved man as he greeted Warne. “That was my first winner of the year and an important one!” said the Downpatrick trainer. “It’s back to Liverpool now but it’s going to be tight enough to have him right as he needs to get fitter.”

Hamilton doubled up in the concluding six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden with David Aiken’s Canadian Steel (3/1-4/1) who was also ridden by Declan Lavery.

Maine Supply was left in front when Another Alex ran out at the fifth fence but the free-running Jack’s Ranger went on at halfway, injecting pace into the race.

Having been settled in mid-division, Canadian Steel made smooth progress throughout the final circuit, jumping into third at the second last and passing American Image soon after. The hooded newcomer headed Jack’s Ranger before the turn-in and only had to be pushed out to score by 10 lengths.

“That was great,” commented Hamilton. “He can be free and excitable but they went a real good gallop and Deckie gave him a beautiful ride.”

SETTLED DOWN

Derek O’Connor was unseated from the long absent 6/4 favourite Tara More at the fourth last fence but had earlier landed the Albert Bartlett five-year-old geldings’ maiden on Wilson Dennison’s Ballyoptic (7/2-2/1).

Fitted with a three-ring snaffle on which the reins were attached to the bottom ring, the Old Vic bay made all the running to beat the Hamilton-trained favourite Wither Or Not (6/4-5/4) by seven lengths.

“He used to be too free but has learned to settle at home,” reported trainer Ian Ferguson of the impressive winner who had finished third on his only previous start at Maralin in November behind subsequent Ayr bumper winner Baby Bach. “When I bought the horse from his breeder (Roger Ryan) as a foal at Tatts, I was told that he was the last of the Old Vics.”

O’Connor also tried to make all in the same colours in the opening Dennison Commercials four-year-old maiden on Templehills when soon taking over from reluctant leader Good Vibration (3/1-7/4).

However, sweeping around to the home straight for the final time, Templehills was headed by both Good Vibration and the always-prominent Westend Story. While the former, on the outside, put in a good jump at the last, Westend Story pitched badly on landing, unseating Barry O’Neill.

Noel McParlan on Good Vibration wasn’t hard pressed to hold off the late-arriving Rolling Dylan and favourite Balzac Turgot (4/6-6/4) by one and a half lengths and half a length.

The winning French-bred grey is owned and trained by Graham McKeever who commented: “He’s pretty useful and effective and will be more so when he gets his jumping together.”

McParlan moved on to the nine-win mark in the region (11 countrywide) when completing a double in the Tattersalls Ireland five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden on Universal Wren (7/1, steady).

MISTAKE

Again O’Connor took up the pace-making duties, this time on Suzy’s Music who led until headed before three out by Tamacilla whose chances ended with a bad mistake at the next.

Suzy’s Music had no more to give at this stage either and favourite backers were on good terms with themselves as Escape Footwear (6/4-4/6) loomed into the lead. However, Universal Wren went with her while Monlough Gir also put in her bid on the wide outside. Universal Wren was a length up on the market-leader at the last and she had increased that margin to two and a half lengths at the post.

The winning Winged Love mare, who was making her debut at seven years of age, is trained by Rodney Arthur for the Smalls Diamond Syndicate.

Just before Ann and Alan Potts’s Goonyella won the Betfred Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter, his trainer, Jim Dreaper, saddled the same owners’ Kayf Supreme to land the Lagan Construction winners of one at Kirkistown.

Under Jamie Codd, the Kayf Tara six-year-old made all the running and, in a nip-and-tuck battle up the run-in, held off fellow 7/4 joint-favourite Jonniesofa by a neck. On the outside at the final fence, the year younger runner-up pecked on landing which could well have made the difference. “I’m delighted he won,” said Dreaper of Kayf Supreme. “He’ll probably be put by for next season.”

HORSE TO FOLLOW

ROLLING DYLAN (S. Donohoe): This Indian River gelding stayed on well in the closing stages of the four-year-old maiden to finish second. From the family of Ballyfin Lake and Half Free, he is a full-brother to Indiana Bay, the winner of five point-to-points in Britain.