THERE was some competitive fare at Sunday’s Lismore meeting, run by the West Waterford Foxhounds.

Lite Duties (evens - 4/6) continued handler Sam Curling’s outstanding season by recording a typically brave front-running success in the open to provide rider Pa King with the middle leg of a three-timer. Lite Duties, victorious at Aghabullogue and Kilfeacle in January, was bounced out at the head of affairs and the market leader got into a lovely rhythm.

Deadheat, a former four-time track winner in his native France, reappearing after a 16-month lay-off, moved stylishly through to challenge the front-runner at the penultimate of the 15 obstacles. Indeed, Deadheat touched down in front over the final fence as the eventual winner blundered.

However, Lite Duties knows no bounds when it comes to tenacity and he was back in front in a matter of strides. The 11-year-old, a former four-time track winner for Charles Byrnes, quickly asserted to account for an eased-down Deadheat by eight lengths in the colours of Eamonn Casey with a 12-length break to the third-placed Montys Meadow.

“This is a lovely horse and James King, who rides him out at home, said during the week that he was back to his best. He will now run in the ladies open at Durrow in a few weeks’ time,” said Curling of Lite Duties, who also hinted that his charge could be aimed at the four-mile hunter chase at Stratford at the beginning of June.

Co Tipperary jockey King instigated his hat-trick aboard owner/trainer Tom Keating’s mare Shuil Luas (5/2) in the winners of two. Not Fou Sale and Half Shot vied for supremacy up front until the latter gave way from after the third last.

Shuil Luas, who did well to survive quite serious interference five out, was edging closer the whole time and she moved through to challenge Not Fou Sale two out.

The winning daughter of Brian Boru never gave up and it was only inside the final 50 yards that she mastered Brian Dunleavy’s mount Not Fou Sale to oblige by a head in what was the closest finish of the afternoon. Shuil Luas, also victorious at Ballindenisk’s December meeting, will continue running in winners’ races.

King signed off by moving onto the 16-winner mark for the campaign aboard Garrett Power’s mare Dontlikethat (4/1) in the five-year-old and upwards unplaced maiden. Dontlikethat, who failed to complete the course on her two previous forays, readily moved through to pick up the running after three out and she forged clear from the last to dismiss Reign Supreme by eight lengths in the silks of Kinsale-based P.J. McDonnell.

Handler Power, who said that King has won on all three rides that he has had for him, will now aim Dontlikethat at a winners’ race.

Disqualified

Pa King actually returned to the number one slot aboard the Pat Doyle-trained grey Petibonome in the four-year-old maiden. However, the French-bred was disqualified for taking the incorrect course between the final two fences.

Petibonome was already well in command at the time of his mistake and he stormed clear to beat newcomer Galon De Vauzelle (7/1) by 12 lengths.

Galon De Vauzelle’s rider James Kenny, who was partnering the well-built son of Kap Rock for his trainer father Liam Kenny and owner Harley Dunne, was quick to lodge an objection against Petibonome. A stewards’ enquiry was called, disqualification was inevitable and Galon De Vauzelle was awarded the race with Eric Carmen promoted to second spot.

Peter Fahey’s newcomer Coastal World (7/2) booked his passage to Thursday’s Tattersalls Ireland Sale at Cheltenham by posting a taking debut success under Richie Deegan in the five- and six-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Coastal World was always positioned close to the pace and the winning son of Coastal Path was sent to the head of affairs before two out and he then dug deep to fend off Small Bad Bob, who fell when leading at the final fence at this same meeting last year, by two and a half lengths.

Coastal World, out of an unraced sister to the dam of French Grade 2-winning chaser Laterano, represents Co Antrim-based owner Liam Kerrigan who has enjoyed recent track success with Brawler.

The Liam Burke-owned/trained Trees Valley (6/4) stepped up from her second-placed effort in the Tallow confined hunt maiden by landing the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden, much to the dismay of the 11 bookmakers present.

Trees Valley benefited from an enterprising front-running ride from Tom Feeney to record a pillar-to-post success by going clear from two out to dispose of seasonal debutant Imperial Attire by 12 lengths.

The victorious bay, having finished fourth in a Clonmel maiden hurdle in February of last year, could now revert to running over flights or alternatively she could contest the Gain Mares’ final.

Trees Valley was bred by the late Bill Ronayne, one of the mainstays of the Tallow meeting, and it was appropriate that his wife Eleanor was present to witness the seven-year-old’s victory.

Horses to Follow

Deadheat (S. McParlan): This seven-year-old, a four-time winner in his native France, was returning from a lay-off in the open. The son of Buck’s Boum always travelled well and he overtook Lite Duties over the last.

He ran considerably better than being beaten by eight lengths into second spot would indicate and he should take very high order in open company.

News

Last meeting in Lismore Castle

THIS was the last meeting to take place on the historic Lismore course on the Lismore demesne, where racing has been staged for over the past 100 years.

Florida Pearl won his maiden at Lismore, arguably one of the best courses on the entire circuit, and a proper test of a horse, and Best Mate also started off his career at the famed west Waterford venue.

Next year’s meeting will take place on a new course on the outskirts of Lismore.