THE Dennison Commercials four-year-old maiden has produced some smart horses in the past, including last year’s winner Claimantakinforgan, who went on to finish third in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, and the trend looks to continue as two impressive horses won either division this term.

The Jerry Cosgrave newcomer Battleoverdoyen (3/1 – Evs) indicated that a bright track career awaits when producing an exceptional performance in the opening division under Mark O’Hare, initiating a double for last season’s northern region champion. Carrying the colours of owner Michael Lynch from Maralin, the imposing Doyen gelding looked a picture in the parade ring beforehand and O’Hare was content to hold up his mount in midfield.

Both Sammylou and Bartizan took the field along at a fast tempo throughout ensuring a test of stamina but, on the approach to the last, Battleoverdoyen, who is out of a five-time track winner in France, Battle Over, loomed up along-side Court Liability and Rob James before picking up well on the run in to record a three-length success in the fastest time of the day.

“For such a big horse, he really enjoyed the ground conditions and he never put a foot wrong; he was unbelievable. He could either go to the Goffs or Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham sales next” commented the elated handler.

In the second division, the son of Milan Plouios (3/1 – 5/1) posted an exhibition of jumping to lead from flag fall under Rob James to deny the Willie Codd-trained newcomer Kelp Forest by four lengths.

The Donnchadh Doyle-trained gelding, an expensive store purchase for Monbeg Stables realising €52,000 at the Tattersalls Derby Sale last year, is a half-brother to Wolf Shield, a six-time winner for Gary Moore. He is also out of a half-sister to Irish Grand National placed Home Farm.

The winning handler said: “He’s a lovely big horse and jumped great. He’s an easy-going, very straightforward horse and will head for the sales next.”

READY WINNER

The second leg of O’Hare’s double was recorded on the Stuart Crawford trained Craigmor (5/1 – 10/1) in the Connolly’s Red Mills five-year-old geldings’ maiden. The sounder underfoot conditions clearly suited the Craigsteel gelding as he improved from his previous four outings to run out a ready winner in the colours of Pat McCartan from Moira.

The Billy Costello bred gelding went clear before the last and recorded a 15-length victory from James Lambe’s Shanroe Tic Tec.

“He’s a completely different horse on this better ground and his jumping was super. He could head to the sales next,” stated the winning handler, who was recording his seventh winner of the season.

Jamie Codd was another rider to record a double initiated in the opening Barclay Communications four-year-old mares’ maiden on Deputy Jones (7/2 – 4/1 co-favourite).

Continuing the successful run of form for Denis Murphy and carrying his familiar orange and white silks, the Milan mare was produced to join long-time leader Isle of Destiny at the last fence and pulled away on the run-in to record a three-length win.

A half-sister to recent impressive Bellurgan Park winner Pass The Ball, he is out of a half-sister to graded winner Bob Hall. Bernice Murphy, representing her father Denis who was getting horses ready for the sales during the week, commented: “She has a lovely pedigree and is a really nice mare. Jamie gave her a great ride – you can’t get much better than him. We will see how she is after that but she will head to the sales like the others.”

Only two runners went to post in the concluding Fleet Financial geldings’ winner of two as the Jim Dreaper-trained Complete Sizing (1/6 favourite) extended his unbeaten sequence to three, providing Codd with his second winner. The son of Network, owned by Ann and Alan Potts, picked up in good style to lead before the last and went on to score by four lengths at the line from Infrontofthejudge.

Tom Dreaper commented: “He did all he needed to do out there. He has run well all season and has earned a break now. He could go chasing in the autumn.”

SECOND WINNER

Paul McAleese trained his second winner of the season in the competitive Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham Sales five-year-old mares’ maiden as the well-bred Tennewrow (8/1 – 12/1) caused somewhat of an upset under Lar O’Carroll. The well-supported Bang Bang Rosie was sent off the even-money favourite but was brought-down when Tony Martin’s Absainte fell at the second last. This simplified the task for the Stowaway mare as she led before the last and passed the post with three lengths to spare over the staying-on Rockazo.

Purchased privately by current owner Aidan Darragh, she is out of a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Ned Kelly. Commenting on the success, the delighted handler said: “She ran well the last day at Kirkistown and only made one mistake at the second last ending her chance. She jumped great today and really galloped the whole way to the line. I will discuss it with Aidan if we will run her again in a winners’ race or take her to the sales.”

COASTED HOME

The consistent mare Maple Mons (4/7 – 2/5 favourite) recorded her fourth victory between the flags and her sixth in total this season in the Houston Coachworks Mares’ Open, returning to the form of her impressive Down Royal Hunter Chase success on St Patrick’s Day.

The Barry O’Neill-ridden odds-on favourite jumped fluently throughout and, having shaken off the challenge of Lady Jameson at the second last, she coasted home to record an eight-length win from See What who stayed on from the back of the four runners.

Winning trainer David Christie said: “She really loves that ground and it’s the first time she has encountered it all season. She will run again on Tuesday in the Joseph O’Reilly hunter chase at Fairyhouse.”

Dessie Osborne remembered

A MINUTE’s silence was observed at the East Antrim Hounds point-to-point on Saturday as a mark of respect to Dessie Osborne who passed away recently. From the Carryduff area in north Co. Down, Dessie rode one winner in point-to-points and when he retired from riding he was an acting steward in the northern region.

A familiar face on the circuit, Dessie was known for being pleasant and a true sporting gentleman.

Day switch pays off

TRADITIONALLY the East Antrim Hounds have run their Loughanmore fixture on Easter Monday and Tuesday for almost 20 years but they decided to change this year and run on the Saturday and Monday instead. Changing to the Saturday looks to have paid off as there was a great atmosphere and large crowd at the popular Co. Antrim track to witness a great day’s racing.