THERE was a terrific atmosphere at the Kilworth & Araglen Harriers’ new course at Knockanohill on Sunday and Darragh Allen was the toast of the sizeable local contingent as he dominated the meeting by recording a three-timer.

Allen, who hails from nearby Ballinmadock in the parish of Araglen, returned to a rapturous reception on teaming up with his elder brother Sean Allen to land the winners’ of three aboard the maiden Prophet’s Corner (5/2).

The outsider of the three participants, last month’s Nenagh runner-up Prophet’s Corner built up a sizeable advantage over his two opponents Inchidaly Robin and Another Ocana from flag-fall.

In truth, the son of Westerner had the race in safekeeping from after the third last of the 15 obstacles and he defeated Inchidaly Robin by an eased down 16 lengths.

Owner/trainer Allen, himself a former amateur that presently has four horses in his care, was virtually mobbed by well-wishers post-race. He reported of Prophet’s Corner: “He’s a horse that has never yet got a smack in a race and the soft ground makes a big difference to him. He will now run in a winners’ race.”

Hat-trick

The 28-year-old amateur brought up his hat-trick aboard yet another local horse in Macroney-based dairy-farmer Stevie O’Donoghue’s Dripsey Moon (9/4 – 7/4) in the adjacent hunts’ maiden, much to the dismay of the 14 bookmakers present.

Dripsey Moon certainly brought the best form to the table considering that he finished second on his previous start in a similar type of contest at Knockanard last month and the son of Let The Lion Roar disputed the running virtually throughout with Lisleigh Lad.

The eventual winner edged ahead after the second-last, but it soon became apparent that he had a potential challenger as newcomer Rushmount made progress from well off the pace to go second on the run to the final fence.

While Rushmount was then doing all of his best work in the closing stages, he was still a length adrift of the winning six-year-old in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.

Three-horse handler O’Donoghue remarked of Dripsey Moon, the very first horse to represent his Kinsale-born fiancée Sharon Kelly: “He ran a fabulous race in Knockanard and will now go for a winners’ race, provided that he’s not sold.”

Newcomer

Allen instigated his three-timer aboard the Pat Crowley-trained newcomer Fiveafterfour (9/2) in the mares’ maiden, the race that attracted the biggest field of the afternoon in 13 starters.

Fiveafterfour was soon positioned at the head of affairs, and although briefly joined by Lorna Yeats with six fences remaining, she had most of her rivals in trouble after injecting fresh pace into the race from four out.

The winning daughter of Flemensfirth asserted after two out to put eight lengths between herself and seasonal debutant Lorna Yeats.

Fiveafterfour, whose dam is a half-sister to Grade 1 Arkle Trophy Chase winner Contraband, was purchased by Austin Curran as a foal and the Dungarvan-based figure now owns her in partnership with her handler’s wife Hazel.