THE East Down Foxhounds had their second meeting within five weeks at the scenic venue at Tyrella on what was a wet and blustery afternoon, which proved to be a successful day for Barry O’Neill, who recorded a double.

Cream Sparkles (3/1 - 5/1) got the Wexford rider off the mark when taking the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden. Purchased by Michael O’Connor from Ballintubber, Co Roscommon at the Tattersalls August Sale in 2017 for €5,000, the consistent Scorpion mare tracked the leader Frank And Honest throughout.

Travelling best when hitting the front at the last fence, the David Christie-trained mare duly obliged by four lengths, with the pair pulling 20-lengths clear of the favourite Rarest Diamond. Winning owner O’Connor was quick to praise the winning handler saying: “She has been placed a few times and I’m delighted with the win. She jumped fantastic, David has done a brilliant job with her. She is a nicely bred mare and hopefully she will continue to improve.”

The winning handler later added: “She’s a smashing mare and could go well in a bumper. When we went to Armagh the ground was like glue and it didn’t suit her. She moves very well and enjoyed the better conditions today. We will either head to the sales or the track with her.”

FACILE SUCCESS

O’Neill and Christie combined again an hour later in the winners’ race as Kadmer (4/6 - 4/7 favourite) recorded a facile success in the three-runner event. Held up in the early stages as eventual runner-up Lisnagreggan took the field along at a steady pace, O’Neill let his mount go to the front after a circuit upping the tempo and returned an easy 15-length winner.

The winning handler remarked: “Barry said he never came out of second gear really. He was a different class there. I didn’t jump a fence with him since Limerick and I was a bit concerned on the last circuit as he was out on his own and could have put down or anything, but he jumped well. We will look at a maiden hunter chase for him.” The winner is owned by bookmaker Ray Nicholas.

Nabraska (2/1 - 4/1) made all under Neil Gault to take the concluding novice riders six-year-old and upwards’ maiden for John McNally. Fourth on his debut at this venue in January, the son of Curtain Time improved from that effort to gamely hold off the strong challenge of Sean Gallagher’s Shadow Recruit on the run-in, to record a one-length victory with Fiddler Of Dooney a further length and a half back in third.

The six-year-old was purchased for €12,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland August National Hunt Sale in 2016 and is a half-brother to the John Walsh-trained dual hurdle winner Shower Cross. The grey gelding is from the family of Royal Athlete and Ballycasey. The winning handler and owner commented: “He ran a good race the last day on his debut, he improved from that and we were confident coming here today. I bought him as a three-year-old and he has had a few niggly problems but he’s a lovely horse. He could go to the track now.”

WINNERS

Another novice rider to get among the winners at the Co Down venue was James Kenny on Ya Boy Ya (4/1 - 2/1) in the five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden providing Kenny with his 10th career success. Well-supported in the market, the Liam Kenny-trained gelding hit the front rounding the bend for home and once given the office, the Sans Frontieres gelding quickened nicely and scored by four lengths from the Denis Murphy-trained Normofthenorth.

A half-brother to bumper winner Ask The Tycoon, the five-year-old was purchased by Liam Kenny for €19,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland August National Hunt Sale in 2017 and was carrying the colours of the Orphan Girl Syndicate.

The winning handler said: “He ran a great race in Ballinaboola in November considering he wasn’t right. We took our time with him then and he was showing us plenty coming here today. He travelled well and jumped well. He will run in a winners’ race if not sold.”

DRAMATIC

The opening four-year-old maiden had a dramatic conclusion that went the way of Steal The Thunder (7/2 - 5/1) for handler Jerry Cosgrave. Brother Byrne, third at Oldtown on his debut outing set a blistering pace from the off and turning for home was challenged by the Denis Murphy-trained newcomer Waitonit.

The latter got to the front when both fell at the last leaving the James Lambe-trained Noel’s Boy a clear advantage, however a very slow jump gave Steal The Thunder a chance from a remote fourth place to lead on the run in under Mark O’Hare.

Steal The Thunder is out of flat winner Farleigh and is the first four-year-old winner for sire Mount Nelson. Racing in the colours of Michael McKeown, the four-year-old was offered for sale at the Goffs Derby Sale last year but remained unsold.

The winning owner McKeown commented: “They went at a very fast pace and he stayed on well in the closing stages. We thought we would try our hand in a point-to-point and he will improve again for that. He will be offered for sale now.”

Patrick Turley produced impressive Punchestown winner Power Of Pause recently and recorded another success at his local track as the Mary Kelly-owned Little Battler (1/1 - 5/4 favourite) took the four-runner adjacent hunts’ race.

Making much of the running under Declan Lavery, the son of Arakan was challenged by Sean McParlan’s Canitbe on the final circuit, but Lavery’s mount opened an advantage from the penultimate fence and cruised to an eight-length success.

The winning rider said: “He jumped away in front. It wasn’t a great race but you can only beat what is in front of you. We think he’s a good horse but its just proving it. We were confident coming here today.’’

Horse To Follow

WAITONIT (D. Murphy): Looked the likely winner approaching the last fence when falling, having quickened off the strong pace. His maiden victory seems a formality before further success on the track.

Get well wishes

go to Brenda

BRENDA Ross, assistant judge at the East Down point-to-point in recent years and a member of the Mid-Antrim hunt is well known and very popular throughout the pointing community. Brenda suffered a riding accident in February and the East Down Hunt made an announcement wishing her well on her recovery.

Honouring Willie Buckley’s passing

A MINUTE’S silence was observed in honour of Willie Buckley who sadly passed away at Dundalk racecourse the previous evening. Willie was a member of the IHRB security team for 11 years and was on duty at Dundalk racecourse when taken ill.

First winner for

Dromintee handler

NABRASKA provided John McNally with his first winner as a handler in the older maiden for novice riders. Based in Dromintee, Co Armagh, he was saddling only his third runner since obtaining his licence. Deo Bellator was fourth earlier in the day on her debut in the mares’ maiden.