THE Golden Vale Foxhounds unveiled their new track at Turtulla on Sunday last and the name on everyone’s lips at the Co Tipperary venue was Beakstown (4/1-1/1F) following his taking debut success in the opening Tattersalls Ireland Ascot & Cheltenham Sales four-year-old maiden.

Prominently-ridden throughout by Roger Quinlan, the Stowaway-gelding led his 11 rivals a merry dance from flagfall, and saw off all challengers up the home straight, belying his inexperience to ultimately outpoint eye-catching debutant Kilbrew Boy by three lengths.

With handler Andy Slattery absent it was left to his brother Willie to remark of William Ryan’s close relation to Death Duty and Foxrock: “That was nice. He’s always shown us plenty at home and we think he could be very good. He’ll be offered for sale at the Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham December Sale now.”

Local-pilot Quinlan recorded a double as he similarly successfully adopted front-running tactics aboard Norman Lee’s Cloudy Day (5/2-3/1) in the Ballinroe Transport & Gain Horse Feeds five-year-old and upwards maiden. A highly-creditable runner-up effort at Loughrea last month saw Sarah Hogan’s six-year-old dispatched towards the head of the market and she gave her supporters little cause for concern on her way to a five-length triumph over the staying-on Raphena Rose.

“This mare wasn’t winning out of turn. She’s a tough mare and Roger gave her a great ride. I’m delighted for Michael Hogan, Sarah’s father as he’s one of our main supporters. The mare will go for a winners’ race in a fortnight’s time unless she’s sold,” disclosed Gort, Co Galway-handler Lee.

Fellow Co Galway-trainer/owner Joe Daniels was on the scoresheet in the Lyons Tyre Service & Bridgestone open lightweight as Follow The Moon (3-4/1) recorded his second victory in open company. The 12-year-old assumed sole command of the six-runner contest under regular pilot Christopher Daniels, when the disputing Quarry Rua exited four fences from home.

Despite the persistent effort of local challenger Sir Des Champs from that juncture, the victorious Rainwatch gelding had sufficient reserves of stamina to repel that opponent by a cosy length and a half at the line.

“My son Richard is the key to this horse as he knows him inside out and does an amazing job keeping him ticking over at home,” revealed Daniels Snr. “I’d imagine we will have a crack at another open with Follow The Moon now.”

Also bound for open company next time is the Mary Tyner-owned Phone Booth (6/4-1/1 favourite) as she served notice that she may be in line for an industrious season in that sphere with an authoritative success in the Local Vets & Trainers mares winners of two. Always travelling kindly at the head of affairs in the hands of former champion-rider Derek O’Connor, the Robert Tyner-trained nine-year-old scarcely saw another rival on her way to a facile three and a half-length triumph over TJ Goodtymes.

With victorious handler Tyner on duty elsewhere it was left to his sister-in-law Catherine O’Driscoll to comment of the twice track-placed Phone Booth: “She was brilliant today and made it look very straightforward. It was great to have Derek (O’Connor) on board as he knows her well. A mares open will be next on her agenda.”

Out of luck aboard TJ Goodtymes, Co Cork-amateur David Murphy went one better in the concluding Dew Valley six-year-old and upwards maiden as Orchard Hill (3-2/1F) confirmed the promise of his excellent second-placed finish at Lisronagh late last month. Trained outside Kinsale by well-known jockey’s agent Ruaidhri Tierney, the homebred son of Busy Flight was given the office by the capable Murphy three fences from home and eventually passed the post some six lengths in advance of closest pursuer Kilkarney Mai.

The Aine Tierney-owned seven-year-old is now likely to contest a winners’ race next according to Finbarr Tierney, father of the successful trainer who stated: “Like a few of ours, this fellow was under the weather last year. He’s a horse we’ve always thought a bit of and should be better again on nicer ground. David gave him a smashing ride today, he works hard and I’m over the moon for him.”

Punters were treated to a gripping finish in the The Tipperary Cheese Company five-year-old geldings maiden, as the hitherto luckless Three Loud Knocks (3-4/1) prevailed by a length and a half from Tom Tom Turnaround following a prolonged battle which lasted for much of the final circuit.

Sporting the silks of William Hanly, the Mahler-gelding responded well to Johnny Barry’s urgings in the latter stages having headed the eventual runner-up before the penultimate obstacle. “This horse has got so much stronger over the summer. He galloped away today for fun. He’s tough as he found plenty when the second horse came to him and he went away again. He may be sold now but if not he’ll go for a winners’ race,” observed an ebullient Brian Mortell who has care of the chesnut at his base near Ballingarry, Co Limerick.

Celebrations

THERE were jubilant scenes in the winner’s enclosure following Three Loud Knocks gutsy triumph in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. Accompanying winning handler Brian Mortell amidst the celebrations was the gelding’s owner William Hanly who was greeting his first ever winner.

Killonan, Co Limerick-located Hanly outlined: “That was brilliant. We bought the horse as a store and had some great fun with him last year when he ran some brilliant races. Hopefully we have even more fun ahead now with this him. Brian and I have been great friends for many years now, having hunted together for a number of years. I’m thrilled for him also, as he puts his heart and soul into his horses and deserves all the success he has.”