Alan Mahon

THE East Antrim Hounds two-day point-to-point started on Easter Monday at Loughanmore, Dunadry, Co Antrim in sunshine. However that didn’t last as there were some heavy showers throughout the day ensuring that tractors and some people power were used to help vehicles leave the field.

The Jim Dreaper-trained Shake It Up (2/1 joint-favourite) gained compensation for his final fence fall at Tyrella earlier in the month when running out a game winner in the Fleet Financial winners of two (geldings), to ensure the trainers good run of form following the success of Sizing Chile the previous day.

Piloted by Jamie Codd, he was always to the fore and was challenged at the second last by impressive Kirkistown maiden winner Step Back.

The Presenting gelding gained a slight advantage on the run to the last and showed his staying prowess winning by four lengths. The well-supported joint-favourite Adamstown (4/1-2/1 joint-favourite) was returning from an absence of over two years and could only manage fourth.

Tom Dreaper the son of trainer Jim commented: “He’s a full-brother to Goonyella, goes very well and has some great stamina. He has been very unlucky with a couple of falls and being carried out and he has shown some immaturity in the past so we thought we would come back to the points to boost his confidence. We could possibly go summer chasing with him but not on quick ground just nice ground.’’

The opening Dennison Commercials Ltd maiden race for four-year-old geldings was won by the Donnchadh Doyle-trained Claimantakinforgan (6/1-8/1-5/1) for the Monbeg Syndicate. Barry O’Neill was able to dictate the race, mainly leading throughout and he duly scored by five lengths from Kildisart. This was as good as his first outing as he ran at Inch last Wednesday (March 23rd) but slipped up on the bend to the first fence.

“He’s a very straightforward horse, jumps and gallops away. He’s a good looking horse and he had things his way as Barry was able to dictate from the front. He will head to the sales now,” remarked the winning handler.

Claimantakinforgan realised £18,000 when sold to Monbeg Stables at Doncaster in May 2015. e is a French-bred gelding out of Taquine D’Estrees and is from the same family as Crystal D’Ainay a winner eight times including the Cleeve Hurdle in Cheltenham. He is by Great Pretender who stands at Kilfrush Stud in Co Limerick and is also the sire of the Paul Nichols-trained pair, Mr Mole and P’tit Zig.

Jason McKeown got on the scoreboard in the Connolly’s Red Mills maiden race for five-year-old geldings on the Rodney Arthur-trained newcomer Black Op (5/1-8/1-7/1). The winner is a striking type with a big galloping stride. He was leading at the last fence when his nearest pursuer Lough Derg Jewel fell leaving the Sandmason gelding to win easily by 25 lengths. The stallion Sandmason stands at Lacken Stud in Bunclody, Co Wexford.

“We had a chance to run him last year as a four-year-old but he was a bit weak and so we took our time with him to allow him to develop. I thought he would have a great chance today and he proved me right. I told Jason to give him plenty of room on the bends and at his fences as he is a big horse. He keeps galloping and he has a turn of foot. He will most likely go to the sales now possibly at Aintree,” commented the winning handler who trains outside Ballymena.

The winner was purchased by Rodney’s brother-in-law Ian Ferguson as a three-year-old.

O’SULLIVAN SUCCESS

Aileen O’Sullivan recorded her second career success on Katie’s Oscar (8/1) in the Houston Coachworks mares’ open. Only four mares went to post with the Robert Widger-trained Windy Millie (4/5) being sent off the favourite ahead of Maple Mons (7/4).

Trained by Aileen’s father Denis, the Oscar mare led from the start and was joined at the last by the favourite. However the winner battled gamely to deny Windy Millie by half a length.

Colm McBratney provided Mark O’Hare with a winner in the Tattersalls Ireland maiden race for five-year-old mares when Mystic Theatre (1/2-4/6 favourite) easily won by eight lengths. McBratney stated: “I think she is a very nice sort and has the ability to win a bumper. I will speak to the owner (Rose Boyd) as she was bought to breed. She may have one more run in a mares’ winners contest or will go to the grass and then will likely go to Willie Mullins in the autumn.’’

Mystic Theatre is out of the unraced Alderbrook mare Mystic Cherry. She is a half-sister to Cherry Tart a winner five times, twice over hurdles and three times over fences.

Paul Stafford failed to see his Golan Sun win the John Thompson and Sons older geldings maiden for novice riders as he was taking horses to Hexham to run on Tuesday. Steered by Lar O’Carroll, he was third jumping the last fence. Novo Dawn (15/8 favourite) fell and Wee Small Hours wandered badly on the run in allowing the Golan gelding to score.

The winning owner Michael Keegan commented: “He was third the last day and we were hoping he would come on for the run. We just weren’t sure how he would handle the ground today as we think he needs better going. I think we could go back to the track with him now.’’

Committee organised

THE East Antrim Hounds point at Loughanmore proved not only a challenge for horses in the soft going but for spectators also. Leaving the racecourse was difficult as some heavy showers throughout both days aided to the deteriorating conditions in the field causing many vehicles to become stuck, creating chaotic traffic congestion leaving the grounds.

The committee had tractors on stand-by to pull out any vehicles having difficulties with many members of the public lending a hand to push.

Aileen’s ecstatic

THE Denis O’Sullivan-owned and trained Katie’s Oscar battled gamely and won by half a length providing his daughter Aileen with her second career victory. Her initial success came at the Rockfield point in November last year when she partnered An Tiora Dall to success for Alison Murphy.

The Walterstown, Co Meath native could hardly hold back her excitement cheering as she crossed the line in front: “This is my first winner for Dad. I work the horses with Alison Murphy who rode her first winner on board her own Giveabobback at Quakerstown yesterday, you really couldn’t write this. My mare has run well against geldings this season and it is great to have a mare like her in the yard. I’d like to thank Alison for all her help and congratulate her on first winner as a jockey.’’