THE Mid-Antrim hunt kicked off the 2018/19 point-to-point season at Toomebridge last Saturday, a fixture that was cancelled last year.

The opening McBurney Transport four-year-old mares’ maiden attracted the largest field of the day, with 11 participants facing the starter.

Victory in this competitive event, which saw market support for the Jerry Cosgrave-trained Walking In Memphis (6/4 favourite), went the way of the Donnchadh Doyle-trained Robin Des Sivola (2/1 - 4/1).

Knocked down to Paul Pierce for €23,000 at the Derby Sale last year and running in the familiar colours of Monbeg Syndicate, the Rob James-ridden mare showed promise when falling at Necarne in May.

The Robin Des Champs four-year-old took up the running three from home and powered to a six-length success from the previously placed Quivvy Lough.

Andy Pierce commented on behalf of an absent Donnchadh Doyle, saying :“She has shown plenty since she came in from the summer break. She will improve again from the run today and could head for a winners’ race next.”

Rob James set out his intentions from flag fall on the Cormac Doyle-trained Donatello Mail (4/1 - 5/1) as he made all in the Albert Bartlett five-year-old geldings’ maiden, concluding a brace for the Wexford rider.

Racing in the colours of the Monbeg Farm Racing Partnership, he raced to a six-length victory from the Colin McKeever-trained Getaman.

Winning handler Cormac Doyle remarked of his £25,000 Goffs UK store purchase: “He wasn’t beaten far when third on his first run, but disappointed us on his next two runs. He’s a nice horse and if he isn’t sold he could head for a bumper.”

Sired by Coolagown Stud’s Zambezi Sun, Donatello Mail is the first Irish points winner for the Group 1-winning stallion and he is out of the prolific mare Kestrel Mail, a winner 10-times on the flat and four times over jumps in France.

TREBLE

The smallest field of the day went to post in the Dennison JCB winners of one and Décor Irlandais (4/7 - 4/6 favourite) returned to the winners’ enclosure to initiate a treble for Draperstown trainer Noel Kelly, former northern champion jockey Noel McParlan, and owner Shauna Kelly.

Second when last seen in a bumper at Kilbeggan in August, the chesnut gelding was the only maiden in the line-up, and having made his only error at the first, McParlan’s mount settled well in the rear and was produced to lead down the back straight as he easily recorded a five-length success from American Image.

The winning handler indicated the son of Hello Sunday could either return to a bumper or go down the hunter chase route.

The consistent Oscar Light (6/4 - 1/1 favourite) got her head in front following two placed efforts last season in the Roy Wilson Car Sales five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden. Boasting the best form of the eight runners, McParlan employed similar tactics to the previous race hitting the front four from home and although making a slight mistake when clear at the last, the Oscar mare recorded a six-length victory over the Andrew Slattery-trained The Crafty Touch.

“She was weak last year and probably should have won her maiden before now. She is a stronger mare now and we will keep pointing with her if she is not sold,” reported Kelly.

The Kelly/McParlan partnership combined again half an hour later in the concluding K & G McAtammey six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden with Shanmullagh (5/4 - 4/6 favourite) recording the final leg of their treble.

The winning handler Kelly was full of praise for Noel McParlan remarking. “Noel is a savage wee jockey and he didn’t need any instructions as he knows what to do. He schools the horses for me so knows them well.”

A €6,000 purchase at Tattersalls in June 2015, the Royal Anthem gelding was placed on each of his completed starts in points.

Shanmullagh overcame an absence of a year to battle out the finish with Liam Lennon’s Pegase Amour for a one-length victory.

“He’s a lovely big horse but is still inexperienced and should improve for that win. He will run in winners’ company next” added Kelly.

Champion trainer Colin Bowe recorded his first winner of the season in the Dennison Commercials Ltd four-year-old geldings’ maiden as Golden Nomad (3/1 - 7/1) got the better of Braeside in a thrilling finish.

Fourth on his debut in a high-class maiden at Largy in April before pulling up at Oldcastle, the Gold Well gelding responded to a strong drive on the run-in from Barry O’Neill and was given the verdict by a head from the fast-finishing Braeside and Derek O’Connor.

Sporting the colours of the Milestone Racing Partnership, the winner is from the family of Grade 1 winners Boston Bob and Briar Hill, He was purchased by current connections for €52,000 at the 2017 Tattersalls Derby Sale.

Bowe commented: “I probably shouldn’t have run him the last day. He made a slight mistake at the second last but he really battled well at the finish. He is a lovely horse and showed he is tough too. He will head to the sales next.”

HORSE TO FOLLOW

TIME IS HONEY (Shane Byrne): Was out the back for much of the race but was making progress on the final circuit before falling at the last. She could be of interest next time.

Credit due

THE Mid Antrim Hunt should be given credit on a well organised point-to-point at Toomebridge on Saturday starting the new season.

The course was watered and maintained to ensure safe ground by clerk of the course Davy Crawford and committee members.

Food and beverages were available at the track and there were bouncy castles for the kids. The bar tent did run out of gin for a short time but a trip to the off-licence in Toomebridge soon solved that problem!

Wedding plans!

The Mid-Antrim Hunt made an announcement on Saturday congratulating assistant clerk of the course Paul Ferguson on his engagement to Maeve Gormley last week.

Congratulations

all round

ONE of the first to congratulate treble-winning trainer Noel Kelly on his success at Toomebridge was County Down native David Aiken. A regular on the pointing circuit and the owner of F.S Herron Agricultural feeds, which supplies the Kelly stables, David sold Décor Irlandais to Noel earlier this year following four unplaced efforts in points.