COLIN Bowe recorded a treble at the Fermanagh Harriers Hunt point-to-point on the Friday of the two-day meeting to join issue with Donnchadh Doyle on 26 winners for the season, ensuring that the handlers’ title race will go down to the wire over the final two weeks.

Do You Know What (4/1-7/1) initiated the three-timer as the daughter of Dubai Destination improved from her first outing this year at Dawstown when finishing fourth behind Stream Lady to supply Barry O’Neill with his 50th winner of the season in the Guinness UDV five-year-old mares’ maiden.

Picking up the running at the third last, the Niall Doolan-owned mare was holding the challenge of the even-money favourite Oscar Light by a length when she fell leaving the winner to come home with six lengths to spare over Listentothewomen.

Winning handler Bowe reported: “She had her first run for me at Dawstown the last day and she really came on for the run.” Do You Know What is out of a half-sister to Charlie Hall Chase winner Weird Al and was also bred by Limerick based Doolan, who added: “She gallops, stays and she is a decent filly. She will go to the sales.”

The second leg of the Bowe treble came in the Albert Bartlett five-year-old geldings’ maiden as Morraman (8/1-10/1) benefitted from a mid-season break following two unsatisfactory efforts in January. The son of Gold Well made notable headway on the final circuit under Rob James, who also recorded a treble and went on from the challenging favourite Classic Escape after the penultimate fence to hold the advantage at the final obstacle and recording a four-length success.

“He had a lovely run the first day (when sixth at Dowth in the autumn) but was a bit disappointing since in January so we gave him a break. He come back in better than ever and is an improving sort who will head to the sales now.”

TREBLE

Cushinstown Finest (5/1-6/1), a half-sister to dual flat winner Valentina’s Day, completed the respective hat-tricks for Bowe and James in the concluding Fermanagh Harriers Buttons older mares’ maiden. Pulled up on her debut at Largy, the Trans Island mare clearly benefitted from that experience and returned an easy eight-length winner from Archview Sunshine.

Bred by Liam Carty, who owns the mare with Bowe, commented: “We will see how she is after this and could either head to a bumper or the sales with her.”

Miss Batten (6/4-7/2) is another of the day’s winners to be offered for sale, as Mary Doyle’s Vinnie Roe mare came under the hammer at Wednesday’s Doncaster Spring Sale. A half-sister to recent Lisronagh maiden winner Shotgun Sally and Grade 3 winning chaser Shotgun Paddy, the Pat Doyle-trained mare made an impressive debut in the second division of the Devenish nutrition four-year-old mares’ maiden.

Challenging at the second last under Rob James, the €18,000 Tattersalls August National Hunt Sale graduate soon went clear before the last showing an outstanding turn of foot to win easily by eight lengths from fellow newcomer Quivvy Lough.

“She is a smashing mare and has been doing everything right. She has a lovely pedigree and has plenty of pace and jumps well. She will head to the sales now,” said Doyle.

COMPETITIVE

The opening division of the four-year-old mares’ contest was a hot renewal with some holding notable form, however the Gary McGill-trained Ebaa Hana (2/1-3/1) booked her passage to the sales following her victory.

In a three-way battle before the last, the Anabaa Blue mare was almost on terms and looked to be staying on strongest under Larry O’Carroll when left clear by the fall of Methodtothemadness and Robin Des Sivola, recording an eight-length success from Subtle Quest at the post.

Purchased at the Tattersalls August National Hunt Sale last year for €2,000, she is out of the former Willie Mullins-trained bumper and dual hurdle winner O’Hana who is, in turn, a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Alisier d’Irlande.

“Lar said she was a wee bit green in front but had the beating of the others when they fell at the last. She’s a lovely mare and had a great run the first day closing on the winner to the line (second to Wild Polly at Largy). She will hopefully head to the Cheltenham sales now,” remarked the winning handler.

Scoring for the second time within a week, Loughanmore maiden winner James Boru (4/6-4/5 favourite) supplemented that success in the Harte Peat & T P Topping geldings’ three winner. The Victor McCrea-owned gelding travelled well into the race and soon picked up the running at the second last. The son of Brian Boru forged clear approaching the last to score by a comfortable eightlengths.

Winning handler Noel Kelly said: “He’s a lovely horse and came out of last week’s race really well. We will see how he is tomorrow and he could run again next week.’’

LADY RIDERS

Cavite Beta (4/6-4/5 favourite) made all under Maxine O’Sullivan in the Barry Healy and Company Solicitors open race for lady riders following up his recent Loughrea open success. Sir Des Champs was in the process of running a big race under Susie Doyle, challenging Cavite Beta on the downhill run to the third last when the former Grade 1 winner was sadly fatally injured leaving the Old Vic gelding clear. Owned by the Beta Chance Syndicate, the 12-year-old cruised to his sixth points success by 10 lengths from Mart Lane.

Tom Dreaper remarked: “He was great there for Maxine. It will depend on the ground if he runs again this season; we wouldn’t want it any quicker than that.”

Northern title race

BARRY O’Neill secured his second consecutive Eastern riders title following a treble at Oldcastle on Sunday and the Wexford-based rider is leading the way on his search for his first Northern region title going into the final weekend. The Route Hunt was originally due to hold their meeting in March but due to inclement weather the meeting was rescheduled to the northern bank holiday weekend. O’Neill, on a mark of 15 winners, has a healthy advantage of three winners over the injured Jamie Codd and four to spare over Derek O’Connor and Mark O’Hare.