Margie McLoone

THE Northern season got under way last Saturday at Loughbrickland where Derek O’Connor rode two winners for father and son trainers Colin and Graham McKeever. The first, Kerisper (5/2-3/1-5/2), ran in the colours of Wilson Dennison, joint-Master of the host hunt, the Co Down Hounds.

The French-bred, who travelled well throughout, was prominent in the chasing group as the free-running newcomer Emperor Ivan set the pace in the DBS November Sales five-year-old geldings’ maiden. The longtime leader fell five out having been headed by Native Warrior who jumped the fourth last over two lengths up on Kerisper and Big Jack Behan.

There was nothing between the trio at the next where Native Warrior fell and Kerisper edged on slightly approaching the penultimate fence. As he got in a bit close here and Big Jack Behan jumped well on the outer, the pair were on terms again on landing. However, O’Connor soon sent his mount on about his business and he went clear in the home straight to beat Shining Steed, who went second on the run-in, by eight lengths.

“Derek said that this is a proper horse and you saw how easily he won!” enthused Dennison who probably won’t own Kerisper next time he runs. The good-looking dark bay Robin Des Champs gelding, who is out of a winning Cadoudal mare, was consigned by Rathbarry Stud to the 2012 Derby Sales where he was purchased on Dennison’s behalf by Ian Ferguson. He was fourth on his only outing at Necarne last season.

O’Connor doubled up in the following R.T.D. Crawford winners of two on the even-money favourite Chosen Dream who ran third as Tick Tock Tim, who holds a Waterford Foxhounds certificate, disputed the running on the outside of the Coolnakilla-qualified mare Lol JK.

While Tick Tock Tim dropped away with a circuit to race, Lol JK stuck to her task well. She was challenged for the lead over the third and second last fences by Blackstone Edge but, as his effort petered out on the climb to the last, Chosen Dream arrived with a bid she couldn’t contain. The market leader was a over a length down at the last but got up on the outer close home to score by a head.

“He’ll keep running away although he probably does need good ground,” said winning trainer Graham McKeever. “He has improved from last season and is a lot stronger.” Chosen Dream, a six-year-old Well Chosen gelding who won at Limavady and Tyrella during the 2013/14 campaign, runs in the colours of Peggy Hagan who at 87 years of age was determined to attend the meeting and did so in the company of her grandson James Hagan who also has horses with McKeever.

While connections consider the next outing for Chosen Dream, Brightwells’ sale at Cheltenham next month is the likely destination for Lovely Job, winner of the opening Dennison Commercials four-year-old maiden.

The Touch Of Land gelding, who was fifth at Oldtown on his only run last season, was an easy-to-back 7/1 chance as punters favoured Sweettoothtommy (3/1-5/2) who too made one appearance last term when third at Dromahane in late April.

The market-leader disputed much of the running on the inside of Ballyrath, the most experienced horse in the field, with Baby Bach making it three in line as they turned down the back straight for the final time. The last-named was first beaten and Ballyrath was done with climbing to the turn-in as Lovely Job and Pilgrims Bay went second and third.

Although brought wide by Barry O’Neill, Lovely Job was marginally ahead at the last, where Sweettoothtommy put in his only poor jump of the race, and went away smartly up the run-in to score by four lengths. The winner is trained by Donnchadh Doyle.

Busy saddling his runners at Cheltenham, Gordon Elliott had a good couple of days in Ireland in his absence and followed up his Downpatrick treble by sending out Oscar Barton (5/1-6/1) to land the Horse First open lightweight.

Ridden by 5lbs-claimer Tim Donworth, who is a member of Kaniz Bloodstock Investments Partnership which owns the nine-year-old, Oscar Barton led at halfway and, jumping well, stayed on strongly to beat the never-nearer favourite Vital Plot by five lengths.

“I’d like to thank everyone in Gordon’s,” said Donworth who was having his first mount for the Meath yard where he rides out as often as he can while in his final year studying Equine Business Management at Maynooth.

Bill Doran ran his two pointers in the Tullyraine Equine Clinic five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden. Lady Cave pulled up three out but Remember The Past (3/1 steady), who came from off the pace to lead on landing at the second last, kept on the better close home to beat the always-prominent The Tinker Molly by a neck.

The winning Dilshaan mare, who was making her point-to-point debut following three runs on the track, was ridden by Jamie Flynn who missed the most of the spring campaign through injury.

Reigning champion rider Jamie Codd got off the mark for the season when landing the concluding Wilson Auctions older geldings’ maiden on Hillview Lad (4/1, steady) who made nearly all the running to beat the O’Connor-partnered Cant Pay Wont Pay by 20 lengths.

“He really needs good ground so he’ll probably get a break now until next March,” said Co Laois-based Mark Quigley who trains the successful Vinnie Roe gelding for his breeder Joe Delaney.

HORSES TO FOLLOW

PILGRIMS BAY (A. Fitzgerald): This Turtle Island gelding was a close-up third (beaten half a length for second) in the four-year-old maiden on his second start. He is a full-brother to the points’ winner Watneys Way out of an unraced Supreme Leader half-sister to Turtle Dubh (by Turtle Island).