THERE was a division in the opening Devenish Nutrition four-year-old mares’ maiden at the two-day Fermanagh Harriers point-to-point at Necarne Equestrian Centre. Both divisions went the way of newcomers with the Donnchadh Doyle-trained Redhotfillypeppers (4/1) running out a very impressive winner in the opening division under Harley Dunne. The big chesnut mare, who looked the winner from the second last travelling best, showed a good turn of foot and simply had too many gears for the other runners. She passed the post 10 lengths clear of the previously placed Ellens Way under Richie Deegan.

Redhotfillypeppers, by Robin Des Champs, was purchased by current connections at the Goff’s Land Rover Sale 2015 for €29,000. The winning handler commented: “She’s a gorgeous big mare who jumped well and gallops. She will head to the sales now.’’

Warren Ewing and Mark O’Hare teamed up to take the second division with the Gold Well mare Final Reminder (5/1), winning in a time only one second slower than the first division. Robin Deuz Pois looked to be travelling best at the second last but O’Hare’s mount got on terms at the last fence and displayed her strength as she drew clear on the run to the line to record a four-length victory.

“She’s a nice big mare. We always thought a lot of her as she is working away with the geldings and we thought if she jumped around she would take all the beating. She will hopefully head to the Cheltenham sales now,” remarked Ewing.

She is the first winner out of the Supreme Leader mare Olde Kilcormac, a half-sister to Little Buck and Royal County Buck, winners seven and three times respectively.

O’HARE DOUBLE

Mark O’Hare notched up a quick double securing the northern riders’ title, when the Jerry Cosgrave trained Tullyhappy Lass (10/1) won the Guinness U.D.V five and six-year-old mares’ maiden on her first outing for the handler. She pulled up on her only two outings in the autumn for Neil McKnight and was subsequently privately purchased by current owner Neville Reid from Dromore, Co Down.

O’Hare always had his mount to the fore and when long-time leader Florianopolis tired on the run to the last no other rival could reduce the deficit.

She won by five lengths from Askyourmammy and in turn provided stallion Robin Des Champ with his second winner of the evening.

Cosgrave stated: “We were happy to see the ground was softer than expected and so we thought we would have a chance. She’s a great little mare and she did it well there and will now head to the sales.’’

Sheila Ahern joined Liz Lalor on five winners for the season on Friday evening in the race for the ladies title when steering the well-supported favourite Aughnacurraveel (7/4-1/1 favourite) in the Lakeland Tyre Service open for lady riders scoring easily by 15 lengths from Hillbilly Babe.

“Sheila does all the work with him at home and I told her if she was in a position to win the ladies championship we would take him out of retirement to try and help her. She’s a great girl and doesn’t get enough opportunities,” remarked handler Cummins from Clashmore, Co Waterford.

Barry O’Neill won his 50th race of the season in the Jennings Fuels & Lubricants Ltd winners of three as he steered John Paul Brennan’s Boruing Up A Storm (6/4-5/4 favourite) to an easy eight-length success from Rosc Catha completing a double for stallion Brian Boru. Brennan commented: “That’s his fourth win of the season and looking back now we shouldn’t have run him in the hunter chases until he had more experience. He will run again in points before the end of the season,’’

Jamie Codd got off the mark on the Brian Hamilton owned and trained Some Chaos (6/4 favourite), confirming initial promise when winning the Albert Bartlett five-year-old geldings’maiden. The Brian Boru gelding raced keenly early in the race and made a mistake with a circuit to go but this didn’t hold him back as he went clear on the run to the last and scored by five lengths from newcomer Another Venture.

Some Chaos is well-bred being out of an own sister to nine-time winner Dancing Tornado and five-time winner Waltzing Tornado. He was purchased at the 2014 Goffs Land Rover Sale for €40,000.

“He’s unlucky not to have won before now. We think a lot of him. We think he has the speed for a bumper so he will either run in one or we will sell him,” said Hamilton.

The concluding race of the day the Jordan S Engineering Ltd older mares’ maiden was won by Jack Rearden’s homebred Lucy Kate (12/1) under Aaron Murphy. It was only the nine-year-old’s third outing and she improved for her experience on her last run at Oldcastle.

The Luso mare is trained by Ciaran Murphy and won by a length from the favourite Alice’s Star (9/4 favourite).

“We got her ready for today and Aaron gave her a lovely ride. Once he switched her to the inside going to the last she stayed on well. The main aim will be the farmers’ hunter chase at the Punchestown Festival next year as Jack is from that area,” remarked winning handler Murphy.

Success for Reid

OWNER Neville Reid from Dromore, Co Down had his first point-to-point runner and winner on Friday evening at Necarne when Tullyhappy Lass won the five and six-year-old mare’s maiden for Jerry Cosgrave and was steered by Mark O’Hare.

He is also involved in Reid and Murphy Bloodstock who had their first winner the previous evening at Perth as Tullyglush won the bumper under Richard Johnson. The Scorpion gelding is trained by Gordon Elliott and won by three and a quarter lengths from Tessie B.