THE Colm McBratney-trained Marito returned to the pointing scene with a very impressive victory in the Enviro Care N.I. Ltd Open Lightweight Race in the hands of Noel McParlan.

Owned by James Marley and Samuel Downey, Marito (1/2 favourite), easily accounted for Cootamundra by six lengths in what could be classed as a schooling outing, such was the ease at which he returned.

“He won nicely there. Noel said he settled and jumped well and felt great. He may have another run in a point-to-point and then go to the hunters chase in Down Royal at Christmas with the main aim being the Cheltenham Foxhunters,” commented the Crossgar, Co Down handler.

There was an as equally impressive winner to the opening Dennison Commercials Ltd Maiden Race for four-year-olds, in the guise of Bach De Clermont (11/8 favourite), whose success initiated a double for Brian Hamilton and Declan Lavery.

Rio Bravo set a ferocious pace from the start, however the winning French import moved with ease into the lead before the final fence in the hands of Lavery and accounted for another newcomer, Tyrrell’s Succes by six lengths, clocking the fastest time of the day with the early pace setter finishing a further 20 lengths back in third.

“He was bought as a two-year-old out of France as a sales horse. He is a very easy going horse and jumps seriously well. He is 16.1 hands and is a really tight compact hardy little horse and is one of the toughest horses I have ever had. He will now go to the sales,” remarked winning handler Hamilton. By Della Francesca, he is the fourth foal out of Fleur De Princesse who was placed in two National Hunt races in France.

The Hamilton/Lavery double was completed in the Jacksons Butcher Shop and Bakery Maiden Race for five-year-old mares’, when Monlough Girl (4/1) scored by a distance for on-course doctor Edward Smyth.

The odds-on favourite Boston Lady took up the lead at the second last, however she slipped up on the bend before the final fence while being challenged by the smooth travelling Monlough Girl. The Derek O’Connor-partnered Malika kept on behind to finish second.

“Edward pre-trained her and left her over to me six weeks ago. She threatened to win a race last year but was let down by her jumping so we worked on her schooling and we knew she had enough ability after being third in a Downpatrick bumper. It is great to get the win now as she is in foal to September Storm,” remarked Hamilton. Monlough Girl is by Desert King and is out of the Zaffaran mare Lady Of Scarvagh, a winner of two hurdles and two chases and is from the same family as Doran’s Pride.

Rob James got on the score sheet aboard the Donnchadh Doyle-trained A Bold Move (7/1) in the Islandbawn Winners’ of One. The Shantou gelding joined long-time leader One Tick at the final fence and stayed on gamely to defeat Ballyoptic by three lengths at the line. One Tick weakened on the run-in and finished fourth behind the never nearer maiden Theatre One.

The winning handler was represented at the track by James Doyle, part of the winning Monbeg Syndicate who commented: “He will probably go for a bumper now as he is a speedy type of horse.” A Bold Move was purchased at the Goffs Land Rover in June 2013 for €36,000.

Ticinese (9/4) returned to the winner’s enclosure in the familiar colours of local owner Peggy Hagan in the Stonebridge Premium Feeds Maiden Race for five-year-old geldings.

Having eased his way to the front on the run to the last fence in the hands of Mark O’Hare, the Lucarno gelding drew clear to score by 12 lengths from favourite Butney Island with Hit The Diff a distance back in third.

The elated winning handler Graham McKeever commented: “We bought him in July at the Ascot Sales. He had a great run in Toomebridge two weeks ago and was a bit unlucky not to win as I gave the jockey the wrong instructions. He will develop into a nice chaser and will be a lovely summer horse as he likes the decent ground. He will run in a winner’s race if the ground stays good otherwise he will head to the sales.”

There was a somewhat fortunate winner of the concluding Easyfix Maiden Race for six-year-old and upwards as newcomer Don’t Be Bold and American Image (4/1) were disputing the lead at the final fence when Don’t Be Bold crashed out, denying his trainer Colin McBratney a double on the day and leaving the Michael Millar-owned, trained and bred gelding to score by four lengths ahead of newcomer Thornleigh Henry.

The 4/5 favourite Imperial Trix disappointed trailing in fifth and last of the five finishers. The Glenavy-based handler remarked afterwards “He is a tough wee horse who was unlucky to fall at the last in Toomebridge. This is a great family win as we bred him ourselves and we have his half-sister in foal.”

Paying tribute

A one minute silence was observed prior to racing commencing, following the loss of Jim Allen on Friday, a great supporter of point-to-pointing and National Hunt racing in Ireland.

Jim was a well-known figure at northern region point-to-points and owns the land where Maralin point-to-point takes place. He has developed the lands in recent years to a schooling ground and also had cross-country fences.