Alan Mahon

IN testing conditions Michael Goff’s Champs Elysees gelding Fullasthesea (3/1-6/1) made an impressive debut in the opening Dennison Commercials four-year-old maiden at Maralin last Saturday.

Sad Eyed Dylan, second to the impressive Tattersalls Cheltenham sales graduate Palmers Hill on his debut at Tyrella, took the field along from the outset, ensuring a true test of stamina.

With horses dropping away on the final circuit, Shane Fitzgerald’s mount took over before the second-last and lengthened away from his nearest pursuer, Overworkdunderpaid, on the run to the final fence.

Mainly from a flat pedigree, Fullasthesea tired and raced greenly on the run-in but the result was never in doubt as he recorded a 20-length success with the same distance back to the pacesetter Sad Eyed Dylan in third.

Purchased at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale last year when knocked down to Francis Fenlon for just €7,500, the imposing gelding is jointly owned with Banbridge native Pat Mackin from Banbridge. “We really expected him to run well today as he has been showing us plenty on the gallops. He will probably head to the Aintree sales next,” commented the winning handler who was having his sixth winner of the season.

The Beneficial mare Holycross Lito (4/6-4/7 favourite) impressed for the second week in a row in the concluding winners of three under Noel McParlan. Stepping up from her emphatic maiden victory at Kirkistown two weeks ago, the seven-year-old travelled well on the final circuit and led rounding the bend approaching the second last.

The Sean McParlan-owned and trained mare went clear on the run to the last and easily accounted for recent Armagh winner Puff My Pistons by 10 lengths. “She’s a really good mare and done it well again today. She will go for the mares’ winners race at Templepatrick next,” said the winning handler.

Another father and son partnership, Gerard and Brian Lawless, combined for success in the Tattersalls Ireland five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden when the consistent Delgany Lass (2/1- 5/2 joint favourite) got her head in front at the fifth time of asking providing both handler and jockey with their first winners between the flags.

The six-year-old mare has been placed in three of her four previous outings and has been running well all season. The Arakan mare survived a scare at the ninth fence but was foot-perfect elsewhere as she stayed on lead before the final fence from the other joint-favourite, See What, and registered a five-length victory at the finish.

Hailing from Delgany, Co Wicklow, Gerard Lawless commented: “She is a great mare that takes her racing very well. She was a bit weak last year so we took our time with her. She deserves a small break and we will then run her in a winners’ contest.”

CATHY’S FIRST

Cathy Hanna saddled her first winner when Is This It (10/1-12/1) benefited from a strong drive from Johnny Cresswell to land the Northern Excavators Ltd six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

Derek O’Connor looked to have given Lagan Island the perfect ride as the Trans Island gelding was produced to dispute the lead with Is This It at the final fence. However, Samuel Hanna’s homebred fought gamely to deny the challenge and win by a neck with Boycie’s Taken a distance back in third.

Winning owner Samuel Hanna, father of the handler, was recording his second winner as he owned the dam Quinntowin when she won her second start in a five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden point-to-point at Limavady under Aaron Stronge in April 2003.

The excited winning handler commented: “He is such a great wee horse and tries every time. He has been placed for us five times. He really loved the testing conditions today and Johnny (Cresswell) gave him a great ride.”

In a tight finish, Mark O’Hare galvanised a renewed effort on-board the Sheila Mangan-owned Freewheelin Dylan (2/1-3/1) in the Albert Bartlett five-year-old geldings’ maiden to deny newcomer Kilbrew Gold by a neck.

Trained by the in-form Dermot McLoughlin, the Curtain Time gelding was acquired privately by Sheila Mangan from Shane Donohue, for whom he had run twice, including a second-placed effort at Kirkistown in November.

“He would appreciate some nicer ground but he has been ready to run now for a while so we thought we should give him the run,” commented the winning handler.

Freewheelin Dylan is the first foal out of the unraced Beat All mare Gaye Future, who is a half-sister to four winners including six-time winner Simon.

“He’s a nice horse and is very nimble over his jumps. We will give him a bit of time to get over that run and he will go for a winner’s race,” added McLoughlin.

Cavite Beta (6/4-5/4 favourite) led from flagfall in the LC Homes (Lilburn Contracts) open lightweight race under Derek O’Connor and recorded a cosy six-length success over four-time track winner Red Devil Boys. “He is such a good horse, a real dinger,” commented Tom Dreaper, son of the winning trainer Jim.

The Old Vic gelding won five times on the track, four of those whilst carrying the colours of Cheltenham Gold Cup winning owners Ann and Alan Potts, before changing ownership to the Beta Chance syndicate which includes farrier Jimmy Flanagan and others from the Dreaper yard.

“He had a nice run at Kirkistown last week and really came on for it. He has a great attitude and jumps great so we will have some fun pointing him,” said Dreaper.