THE East Down Foxhound’s meeting at Tyrella drew a fine crowd on a pleasant winter’s day. A drying sea breeze and lack of recent rain made for quick underfoot conditions, uncharacteristic for this time of year.

Clare native Gearoid O’Loughlin made a great start to his association with owner Chris Jones when Home Farm (10-12/1) took the Millar McCall Wylie Solicitors open on just his second start for the handler. The 10-year-old is another high-class recruit to the open division as he was once rated 153 over fences and ran in the Grand National less than 12 months ago.

Following on from a good placed effort on his debut in open company at Lingstown before Christmas, the winner raced in mid-division for much of the contest before finding plenty for pressure in the home straight as he saw of the classy Balnaslow by two lengths.

O’Loughlin, who also rode his charge, was formally a head lad for Jim Bolger and is currently assistant trainer to Andrew Lynch. “It’s great to get this lad back to winning ways as he hasn’t won in three years. We are all delighted. I’ve one winner left in novice riders’ races so this lad will be aimed at the open at Punchestown,” said a delighted O’Loughlin.

It was a red letter day for Donal Kelleher who rode his first winner aboard Mister Mister (10/1) in the concluding PKF FPM Accountants older maiden. The successful six-year-old is trained outside Navan in Co Meath by Thomas McGeough, who also owns the September Storm gelding.

Having finished fourth at Maralin last May, the winner was always to the fore of proceedings having hit the front jumping the third last before going on to pick up well in the home straight to see off the previously placed Real Warrior by three and a half lengths.

The winning handler remarked: “This is a homebred who has taken time to come to himself. The ground is the key to him; he wants that nice ground. If he isn’t sold he might be let off and brought in for a maiden hurdle during the summer.”

Loveherandlaeveher (7/4-5/4 favourite) took the opening Albert Barlett five-year-old mares’ maiden for handler Caroline McCaldin and owner Declan Lennon. Having just her second start, the daughter of Winged Love built on her very promising debut where she chased home the smart Big Penny at Tattersalls in the autumn, a horse who was subsequently sold for £70,000 at Cheltenham.

The five-year-old disputed much of the running and jumped noticeably well in the hands of Noel McParlan, while also showing a nice turn of foot in the closing stages to see off Ayleoola, a smart mare in her own right, by 12 lengths.

This decent sort is from a family of multiple point-to-point winners, including Highly Unlikely, and will be an exciting prospect when she reappears under rules. The winning rider commented: “This is an improving mare, she jumped and travelled well. She is a straightforward type who rides out on her own most days and will head to the sales now.”

TIPPERARY YARD

Having saddled the runner-up in the opening contest, Pat Coffey made the long journey from his Tipperary yard worthwhile when taking the Armstrong Auctions older mares’ maiden. Ar Fheabhas Ar Fad (5/4-6/4 favourite) put her experience to good use winning comprehensively by 20 lengths from Smile A Bit back in second.

The winning Stowaway mare is owned by Tipperary county councillor John Hogan and had three previous placed efforts to her name. Ridden by Barry O’Neill, the six-year-old posted an exhibition of jumping throughout, and while her task was simplified by the departure of Commercial Ruin at the penultimate obstacle, the result never looked in doubt.

Coffey, who has quickly become established as both a shrewd operator and one of the leading players in the point-to-point scene, said: “This mare has plenty of ability, and she might go for a winners’ race now if she is not sold. I think the mare would be ideal for a novice rider or for point-to-pointing in the UK and she won’t be expensive.”

The Steel Lintels Ireland Ltd five-year-old geldings’ maiden went to the Wexford trained Asking Questions (3/1-4/1) who was winning at the fourth time of asking for handler Donnachadh Doyle. A €37,000 purchase as a store at the Derby Sale in 2015, the son of Ask is from the family of Caim Hill and Black Apalachi.

Having raced prominently under Rob James, the winner picked up the running at the second last and went away to win by two lengths from Mistercobar who stayed on eye-catchingly from rear. Representative James Doyle said: “He was a big weak horse who has a had a couple of runs. He is maturing now and is a gorgeous horse who jumps well.” Running in the familiar colours of the Monbeg Syndicate, the winner may be targeted at a winner’s race if he isn’t sold beforehand.

The father and son combination of Sean and Noel McParlan has been enjoying a particularly good run of form as of late which continued when As The Crow Flies (1/2-2/5) brought about a hat-trick of wins when taking the CBRE winners of two, following-up his victories at Loughbrickland and Kirkistown earlier in the season.

Having raced a shade keenly, the Presenting six-year-old jumped to the front three-out and, while challenged by the eventual runner-up Battle Anthem on the run to last, the winner picked up once again to prevail by four lengths at the line. “We might go for a bumper now, he got injured as a three-year-old and has a lump on his tendon. He is fine but we couldn’t send him to the sales, he is a fun horse. We have 10-12 in at the moment,” commented the winning handler, whose colours were also carried to success.

First winner

CO Meath native Donal Kelleher was seen to good effect when partnering his first winner on Mister Mister. The 21-year-old is a final year student of Food Science in University College Dublin. Getting off the mark at the 18th attempt, the winning rider works for Gordon Elliot at weekends and during holidays. Kelleher also schools for handler Thomas McGeough who said: “It’s great to give Doney his first winner; his brother Liam won on Mr Mcgo for me last year.” The winning jockey could be one to keep an eye of for novice riders’ races during the season.