THE Welcome Stakes attracted a total of 120 starters on the Friday afternoon of the Cavan Winter Festival, each hoping to gain experience in the ring before the bigger money classes later in the weekend.

Some 46 of the original 120 managed to produce a clear round with Bernard Reynolds’ eight-year-old gelding Kathleens Candy Clover by Sligo Candy Boy the eventual winner. Named after her breeder Kathleen O’Reilly and ridden by John Mulligan, the mare stopped the clock at 52.54 as the 86th to go to claim the win.

Emma McEntee rode John McEntee and Greenvale Transport’s Dutch-bred gelding Hobalo (Bubalu Vdl x Ukato) to finish in second place in 53.11.

Third went to European junior champion Emily Moloney aboard Ian Smyth’s home-bred Cruising On The Ridge (Kannan x Ard Vdl Douglas) in 53.52.

Paul Kennedy and his own German-bred Messarity PS (Messenger x Balou Du Rouet) slotted into fourth place in 53.99. CES Wicked Contender (Contendro Ii x Cavalier), owned and ridden by Robert Harrison, broke the beams in 54.11 for fifth, while Junior Paddy Reape guided Louise Carroll’s Belgian-bred gelding Champagne Vh Bergerhof Z ( Cesano Ii x Aloube Z) to sixth place in 54.16.

1.40m speed

Commandant Geoff Curran with Jessica Stallard and The Minister For Defence’s DHF Alliance (Ard Vdl Douglas x Lux Z) made their intentions for the week ahead clear when claiming the win in Friday evening’s €3,000 WKD 1.40m speed class.

A large field of 96 starters lined out for the class, of which 27 left all the poles in place, Curran’s clear the fastest in 57.53 for the win. Runner-up was young rider Timmy Brennan aboard his father Tim’s mare Diadema Della Caccia (Diamant De Semilly x Cardento), over two seconds slower in 60.01.

Third place went to Shane Goggins riding Jack Goaley’s Boleybawn Cayman (Cassidee x Ard Vdl Douglas), bred by Ronan Rothwell, in a time of 60.44. Winners earlier that day, John Mulligan and Kathleens Candy Clover claimed fourth in 61.45. Fifth place went to Cathal Daniels aboard his own Cappog Tomy (Camiro De Haar Z x S Creevagh Ferro Ex Siebe), bred by Tommy Reilly, in 61.76.

Darragh Ryan and his own eight-year-old Belgian-bred mare Lady Blue Du Pont Letot took sixth in 62.87.