THE Matthew Flynn O’Connor-owned and trained Wrappedupinmay lit up Sunday’s Killeady Harriers fixture at Dromahane as he destroyed the opposition on his debut in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

On an afternoon with 78 runners on the eight-race card, the eye was drawn to the well-supported Wrappedupinmay (4/1 – 5/2 favourite) in this 10-runner contest as Daring Plan set out with the intention of making all.

Scrum Diddly edged ahead after the fourth last of the 14 obstacles only for the winning son of Flemensfirth to assume command for Brian Lawless with three fences remaining.

The physically imposing chesnut asserted from two out and he held an advantage of in the region of 10 lengths when his two closest pursuers Minella Double and Scrum Diddly both came to grief independently at the last.

Meetmeatthepillar was then left to come home second, a distance adrift of Meetmeatthepillar.

Wrappedupinmay, in whom Offaly native Noel Hayes also holds an interest, is a close relation to the Grade 1 Cheltenham Festival bumper winner Relegate, and was due to be offered at Goffs’ sale at Punchestown on Thursday evening.

Heads up

Heads Or Harps was similarly destined for the Punchestown boutique sale following his authoritative front-running success on his initial start for handler Declan Queally in the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The gambled-on Heads Or Harps (3/1 – 5/4 favourite), who pulled-up on his only previous start behind Top Speed at Ballindenisk, was shadowed by Hidalgo Des Bordes virtually throughout until the latter gave way after three out.

The winning son of Flemensfirth showed no signs of stopping as he valiantly maintained the momentum to account for newcomer I’d Like To Know by 16 lengths.

“He was blazing up the gallops at home and was backed accordingly,” said Queally of Heads Or Harps, whose dam is a half-sister to Harchibald.

O’Donovan double

Heads Or Harps’ rider Chris O’Donovan kept his supporters happy by recording a two-timer, the Shanballymore native signing off aboard No Babysitter (4/1 - 5/1) in the second division of the mares’ maiden.

An initial winner as a handler for Eamon O’Neill from Newcastlewest and owned by his son Brian, No Babysitter led from the fifth fence and she powered clear between the final two obstacles to contain The Kids Choice by eight lengths on what was her fifth career start.

DEREK O’Connor limbered up for the Punchestown Festival by teaming up with Robert Tyner to record a brace, the pair signing off with newcomer Ask Me (2/1 - 9/4 joint-favourite) in the adjacent maiden.

The former multiple champion will seldom ride an easier winner as the eight-year-old Ask Me eased past the long-time leader Eveningofsummer after two out before dismissing Jason O’Reilly’s representative by 12 and a half lengths.

“I gave him a bit of time and he then needed a bit more time,” said Tyner of the Falco-sired Ask Me who represents the Traveling Light Syndicate.

Myretown improves

Myretown (5/2 - 3/1) initiated the O’Connor and Tyner double by recording a facile success in the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Myretown, absent since falling at the eighth fence in the maiden won by Inch House on his only previous start at this venue in December, stylishly moved through to pick up the running on the inner approaching two out and the winning son of Dylan Thomas bounded clear on the flat to dispose of Old Beginnings by five and a half lengths.

Myretown was purchased privately as a three-year-old and the David Cotter-owned bay could now contest a maiden hurdle.

Inclusion thrives

The Ian McCarthy-trained Inclusion (2/1 - 3/1), who shaped well on two bumper forays for Nigel Twiston-Davies a year ago, gained a valuable winning bracket for owners James & Jean Potter Ltd by making a winning start to her hunt racing career in the first division of the mares’ maiden.

Inclusion, a daughter of Shirocco, readily picked up the running before three out and James Hannon’s mount then had sufficient reserves of stamina left to thwart the staying-on Knockraha Lass by two lengths.

O’Rourke brings up milestone 50th winner

SHANE O’Rourke gained a milestone by partnering his 50th points winner aboard the Vinny Devereux-trained First Preference (6/1 - 8/1) in the open.

The lightly raced eight-year-old First Preference provided O’Rourke with an eighth success of the campaign by making all the running. The recent Tattersalls scorer was too powerful for runner-up La Feline from two out, the winning margin being 12 lengths.

Hander Devereux, who was 12 horses in harness, intimated that his father Jimmy’s homebred First Preference could make a quick reappearance at Dromahane again tomorrow.

There was yet another family success in the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden as Seaforth Mancy (5/2 - 3/1), who three-horse handler Stevie O’Donoghue trains for his mother Mary, made a winning return to points duty by defeating long-time leader Brownstone in the hands of Darragh Allen.

Seaforth surges

Seaforth Mancy, having finished a fine third on his previous start in a Clonmel maiden hurdle behind Monishter Are Mwee in October, moved closer from three out and he surged past inside the final 50 yards to score by a length in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.

“I was as confident as a small trainer could be coming here that Seaforth Mancy would win and he will probably now return to the track,” said the Kilworth-based operator whose previous success came courtesy of Magheroarty Star in a Lingstown mares’ maiden in December.

Horse to follow

Minella Double (J. Nallen): This Shantou-sired newcomer, a three-parts brother to Death Duty, would have finished a respectable second but for falling at the last behind Wrappedupinmay in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden. Compensation should ensue and he also fits the profile of a track winner.