Margie McLoone

NOEL McParlan clinched the northern region riders’ title by two wins thanks to a double as the season came to a close at Necarne Castle on Saturday.

Halfway through the afternoon, Derek O’Connor’s hopes of at least sharing the honours rested on him landing the Drumhoney Caravan Park open lightweight with Chosen Dream (4/5-4/6) who was seeking his fifth win of the campaign.

McParlan’s mount in the five-runner race was the 10-year-old Mr Bolt (6/4-11/8) who, having started the season as a maiden following 11 outings on the track, was bidding to record his sixth victory of the campaign and his fifth in succession.

The favourite set out to make all but was headed briefly at halfway by the locally-trained The Grey Lord. Chosen Dream was still leading as they turned into the long back straight but now Mr Bolt was in a challenging position and there was nothing between the pair at the third last.

McParlan’s mount began to assert as they hit the level ground and he was two lengths up at the second last. Chosen Dream tried to rally but, knowing his mount well, O’Connor accepted his fate before the final fence and Mr Bolt, getting a few pats down the neck from his rider, came home four lengths clear.

Trainer Sean McParlan was delighted to provide the winning mount for his son as Noel claimed the championship for the second time. Owner Niall McCarthy immediately suggested that the horse would next run in the hunters’ chase at Downpatrick on June 5th. However, Mr Bolt was turned out on Sunday at Stradbally where he won the ladies’ open to put himself in line for champion horse honours.

Rounding off the season in style, the McParlans joined forces to claim the concluding Killyhevlin Hotel older geldings’ maiden, run in memory of the much-missed Rodney Watson, with Tareesh Lane.

The 7/4 (from 6/4) favourite was settled off the pace set by Knockedoutloaded until he and the always-prominent Whinstone Dee went by the longtime leader well before the second last fence. The pair had the race between them from that point with Tareesh Lane staying on much the stronger as they hit the climb for home to score by four lengths.

“I’m over the moon with that!” said Crossgar owner Paddy Madine after greeting his Pierre nine-year-old who had been off the track for 567 days. “His half-sister, Tareesh Lady (by Mister Mat), won for me here as well.”

FOURTH SUCCESS

Mark O’Hare, who rode Whinstone Dee, recorded his fourth success of the season when landing the ITBA (Northern Region) mares’ winners of three on Without Wings (11/8). Successful last time out at Taylorstown, the Winged Love seven-year-old made all to beat Maple Mons (8/11) by two and a half lengths.

“We haven’t really decided what to do with her next,” said Liam Lennon who trains Without Wings for Eugene Ryan. “She may go for the mares’ beginners’ chase at Down Royal (next Friday).”

IMPRESSIVE

Racing opened with the Dennison Commercials four-year-old geldings’ maiden where racegoers were treated to an impressive performance by newcomer Bun Doran who was supported in to 4/1 from twice those odds.

The McParlan-ridden favourite, Whipcord (6/4-7/4), made the running until headed halfway by Goonjim who was joined over the third last by Bun Doran. The pair matched strides across to the next but on landing, Barry O’Neill had to get working on Goonjim as 5lb-claimer Shane Fitzgerald sat motionless on Bun Doran.

The debutant eased away from his rival turning in and came home a comfortable 14 lengths clear with the remainder a distance adrift. Bun Doran is trained in Ferns by a delighted Michael Goff for Dick Frisby who purchased the winner as a foal at Goffs.

Barry Browne, who rides out and schools regularly for David Broad, recorded his first win for the Summerhill trainer when Bringerofthedawn (8/1-5/1) claimed the Wright Concrete six-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Held up just off the pace, set first by Lisnagreggan and then Bilbo Bagins (6/4-2/1), the Kutub bay improved throughout the last circuit to join the favourite over the third last fence. Just getting the upperhand when Bilbo Bagins made a mistake at the next, Bringerofthedawn was in command turning for home and only had to be pushed out to beat the pointing debutant Phangio by three lengths.

“If he’s not sold he’ll race away over the summer,” said Broad who trains Bringerofthedawn for his father Albert. The winner was seventh on his only previous start at Taylorstown just over a year previously.

Tamacilla (4/1-8/1), who finished seventh in the older mares’ maiden here on Friday evening, made a quick re-appearance in the Robert Donaldson LE Graphics adjacent hunts’ race where she made virtually all to beat Longtymegone by 20 lengths.

This race developed into a dual when the 4/6 favourite Folduf fell at the third, bringing down Scarva’s Cindy. The latter was remounted and schooled around to finish a distant third behind the Johnny Cresswell-ridden winner. Having her 26th start between the flags, Tamacilla is owned and trained by her breeder Brian Dougan who, emotionally, gave the Tamayaz mare a long hug on her return to the No 1 spot.