ON a bumper Lisronagh card where riders had to familiarise themselves with the all new characteristics of this extended layout, it was a typically top-class Derek O’Connor waiting ride that produced the fixture’s star performance.

The former champion took full advantage of the superior speed of Jim Key (94++) in the latter stages of what was a strongly run race, as the son of Shantou crossed the line full of running and with any amount in hand. Speed would seem to be his strong suit.

In contrast, Gracchus De Balme (92++) was a rare winner on the day to have raced prominently throughout, and this performance had all the hallmarks of a staying chaser for the future.

At Dromahane 24 hours later, Jonbon (97+) lived up to the pre-race reputation that was unsurprisingly built up for a horse that is a brother of the eight-time Grade 1 winner Douvan.

You could not be anything but impressed by the sight of him easing 15 lengths clear in such effortless fashion to register the quickest time of the day, while seemingly still in second gear.

Achieving the highest four-year-old maiden rating on record, there are few superlatives that could sum up the potential that this performance displayed.

That was not the only notable display on the card as Aloneamongmillions (113++) could be destined to play a very big role in some of this season’s leading hunter chases on the evidence of his swift dismissal of the Cheltenham Foxhunters fourth Staker Wallace, while Rock On Rita (84+) bounced out and made all on her debut which points to a very game four-year-old in a race which saw two definite future track winners extend 12 lengths clear of their rivals.

Knockmullen

For the second year in succession at Knockmullen House, the four-year-old maiden on this card was run to a very steady gallop.

Consequently, seven horses jumped the penultimate obstacle within a couple of lengths of each other, with the class of Prevaricate (90++) ultimately seeing him through on his debut.

In contrast, Prime Pretender (91+) was suited by the stronger gallop as he powered clear from the second last in very taking fashion.

Although this was his third start, he convincingly accounted for two horses that had already finished in the placings this season to provide likeable depth to the performance.

First Preference (87+) could prove to be something that bit better than your average older maiden winner.