THE victory of The Sophster (7/4) in the Wilsons Auctions mares’ two-winner at Loughanmore on Monday was a notable one for handler Ben Arthey, as his last point-to-point success was when the Helissio mare won her maiden at Maralin just over two years ago.
Held up in the early stages by northern region championship leader Noel McParlan, the eight-year-old was sent into the lead three from home and had to battle gamely to hold off the renewed effort of the favourite Camillas Wish by a length in the colours of Janet and Rodney McIlveen.
From Northamptonshire in England, Ben moved over to Ireland 10 years ago to work for Wilson Dennison and later Stuart Crawford before setting up his own yard five years ago in Ballyclare, Co. Antrim.
The delighted winning handler commented: “She is a consistent mare and this was her first run of the season. We will see how she is after today if she runs again as she is in foal to Conduit.”
Arthey didn’t have to wait long to get on the scoresheet for the second time as Commercial Ruin (6/1-7/1) returned a somewhat fortunate winner of the J A McClelland & Sons six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.
Partnered on this occasion by Johnny Cresswell, the Oliver Milligan-owned Zagreb mare looked destined for second as Sarah Dawson’s Milan Diva went clear approaching the last fence however she almost refused, unseating Steven Kelly, gifting the Ben Arthey-trained mare the lead and she stayed on gamely to score by three lengths from the favourite Lovefromabove.
“She is a mare with loads of ability but the last day she made so many mistakes she done well to finish third. We have done plenty of work on her jumping, which showed today but the better ground also helped. We will either go for a winners’ race or head to the track with her,” remarked the winning handler.
Commercial Ruin is out of a half-sister to Hobbs Hill, a six-time winner including in two graded novice chases for Charlie Egerton.
Pat McCartan’s colours were carried into the winner’s enclosure for the second time over the weekend as Lagan Island (2/1-7/4 joint-favourite) obliged in the Albert Bartlett six-year-old geldings’ maiden ahead of Williamthesixth, following-up on Craigmor’s equally impressive success in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden last Saturday.
The winning owner was quick to praise handler Daniel Fitzsimmons’ commenting: “He has done a fantastic job with this horse and really turned him around.”
Initiating a treble for Noel McParlan, the Trans Island gelding was touched off by a neck at Maralin last month and was never far off the pace today as he was produced to lead at the last fence and readily went clear to record a 10-length triumph.
Lagan Island is a half-brother to the late Dessie Hughes’ dual scorer Ballyfinney. Daniel remarked: “We had to take our time with him as he has had a few problems. He has really improved with each run and he could run in a winners’ race next.”
Only three runners went to post in the Dunlop Horse Transport Open lightweight with Sean McParlan’s impressive dual Tyrella winner As The Crow Flies (4/5-4/6 favourite) recording his fifth victory between the flags this season, leaving him one win behind Sprintingforgold in the race for the Red Mills champion pointer title.
Dictating the pace from the start, McParlan on the winner had the Downpatrick hunter chase winner Clondaw Frisby under pressure at the second last as Mart Lane tried to throw down a challenge, however, As The Crow Flies, a Presenting gelding, quickened clear on the run-in to win by five lengths.
The winning handler and owner indicated that the successful six-year-old could turn out again at Largy this weekend.
Dare We Dream was all the rage in the concluding John Thompson & Sons seven-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden but the market leader looked to be settling for second best when exiting at the final fence leaving the Brian Hamilton-trained and owned, Winterberry (3/1-4/1) to come home alone.
The Lar O’Carroll-ridden winning gelding was having only his third start and he quickened clear on the run to the last, looking as though he would record an easy victory from Dare We Dream and Isle Road. However, they both failed to negotiate the final obstacle, leaving the Fruits Of Love gelding to be the sole finisher.
A €10,000 purchase at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale in 2013, Winterberry is a half-brother to Our Ned, a winner of three point-to-points and a mares’ beginners chase. Hamilton said that the seven-year-old could head for a winners’ race next.
William Gault saddled Lisnagreggan (8/1-12/1) to take the opening Topping Meats Adjacent Hunt winners of two as the eight-year-old produced his best effort of the season to record a comfortable victory.
The only runner in the line-up with a previous win to his name, the Neil Gault-ridden gelding led for most of the race and opened his advantage on the run to the last fence posting a 10-length win from Warren Ewing’s Movie Theatre.
Based in Randalstown, the winning handler commented: “He wasn’t running great all season so we put him out to the field for two weeks and he has come back in a different horse”.
Owned jointly between Gault and Paul Martin, they elected the hunt race in Ballymena next on the agenda for the winner.
McParlan wins leading rider prize
NOEL McParlan was presented with the leading rider cheque at Loughanmore, sponsored by George Logan & Sons, notching up three winners on the scoreboard.
All his winners came on the second day of the popular Easter meeting, his first on Lagan Island, followed by The Sophster, and his father’s As The Crow Flies rounded off the superb treble for the Hilltown jockey in the open lightweight.
Sponsors praised
THE East Antrim Hounds committee thanked all sponsors over the two days. They included City Auction Group who provided each winning owner with a DVD of the race, Joli Clothing and Ernest Hall Menswear, Ballyclare for the most appropriately dressed lady and gentleman and Jacksons Butcher Shop & Bakery and Pencro Engineering for best turned out prizes over the two days.