WITH the 2020 crop of four-year-olds having been disproportionately hit by the interruption of the racing shutdown last March just after month after they began running between the flags, one of the consequences which was murmured during the off-season was the potential for this autumn campaign to feature some of the best four-year-old maidens for quite some time.

It would seem that we are right in the middle of that, further evidenced last weekend by the performances of Grand Jury (94++) and Guily Billy (94+) at Turtulla and Tinahely respectively.

The former only had to be shaken up by Pa King for the briefest of moments after the last to assert in the manner of a horse with bags of potential.

Always to the fore in a race which followers of the clock will note was 19 seconds faster than the day’s average, his jumping was a notable asset as he hit the line full of running.

Such was his superiority over 13 rivals, we did not get to witness the full extent of his talents in a race that Pat Doyle won a year earlier with the exciting Bob Olinger. This performance was every bit as impressive as his predecessor.

At Tinahely, Guily Billy (94+) is an €80,000 store that made all and had the requisite extra gear from the penultimate fence to dismiss the challenge of Captain Quint (89+) in a race which saw the pair pull 15 lengths clear of their rivals.

Although possessing somewhat different profiles, both would look above average. Meanwhile, Some Man (111++) proved he is every bit as adept at winning from the front as he is when coming from behind to maintain a 100% record between the flags.

A day earlier at Loughbrickland, 47 runners had to contend with the most testing conditions encountered this season, where Ballyhawkish (90+) has to get particular credit for the manner in which he coped with conditions for a four-year-old newcomer.

Lasparas (89+) has the potential to develop into a notable staying chaser, while Ask D’Man (99++) posted the quickest time on the card as he continues his rise through the ranks at pace and already looks open grade material.

Overall top performances in recent years

4YO maiden: Jonbon, 08/11/2020 97+

Mare: Maple Mons, Fairyhouse 18/04/2018 116

Open: Marito, Kirkistown 29/11/2014 / Warne, Kirkistown 18/01/2014 122+