THE Portglenone, Co Derry rider Cara McGoldrick has struck up an excellent partnership with Woodbrook Boy this term and the pair returned to winnings ways when bringing up their hat-trick for the season in the ladies open at last Saturday’s Tipperary Foxhounds meeting at Lisronagh.

Handled by the absent Ellen Doyle, the front-running Woodbrook Boy (1/1 favourite), a fine second to Bold Enough in Kirkistown a fortnight previously, in spite of being headed briefly by Heroes of Renown early on the final circuit, readily drew clear in the home straight to account for Russian Diamond by six lengths.

“Ellen and James do an amazing job with him. He’s a brilliant jumper so I said going out today that I’d use that to his advantage and let him stride on. Whilst he’s qualified for some of the spring hunter chases, we’ll most likely stick to opens with him for the rest of the season,” reflected Ms McGoldrick.

The similarly priced John Murphy-trained Nas Na Riogh (1/1 favourite) made no mistake at the second time of asking when running out a game winner of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden under Johnny Barry.

A second-last fence faller when holding every chance on his debut at Cragmore in late January, the sweet-travelling Walk In The Park gelding found most on the short run-in to see off Beau Walking by half-a-length with the pair having pulled nicely clear after the penultimate obstacle.

“John [Murphy] has always held this horse in very high regard as he’s been showing him the right signs from day one. We’ll enjoy today’s win and consider our options now,” reflected winning owner Oisín Mahon of the imposing Nas Na Riogh who is the sixth produce of a half-sister to 2009 Galway Plate victor Ballyholland.

Beau Walking’s pilot Harry Swan later enjoyed better fortune when steering his grandmother Trish Hyde’s debutante Pallas Athene (5/2 - 2/1 favourite) to a taking triumph in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.

Handled locally by Sam Curling, the half-sister to last season’s Punchestown Festival scorer Crosshill was sent to the front at an early juncture by Swan and stylishly sealed the eight-runner contest in a matter of strides after two out to claim the spoils by six and a half lengths from Fairland.

“This is a fine big filly that’s only coming to herself now,” said Curling.

“The time the Hydes have given her has really paid off. She’ll be an even better filly next year and will go to the sales now.”

Gino just holds off

the Jet to take opener

THE opening four-year-old maiden had earlier gone the way of the Rob James-handled Just Gino (3-4/1) who obliged at the first time of asking.

A €26,000 purchase from last year’s Goffs Land Rover Sale, the striking chesnut by It’s Gino forged clear under James Walsh after the second-last fence fall of the leading Petit Secret and saw it out best late-on to repel fellow first-timer Electric Jet by a length.

“This is a lovely model of a horse. He’s a horse with plenty of gears and James [Walsh] liked him a lot there. He should have a nice future on the track now,” outlined the successful handler who shares the winner with Eamonn Doyle.

Easily the most dramatic finish of the day came in the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden. Here eventual winner and then leader Snow Punt (5/2 - 5/4 favourite), handled in Doneraile, Co Cork, by Brendan Walsh, looked to have lost all chance when making a significant error at the second from home. However, Pa King’s heroics in the saddle were duly rewarded as the Robbie Clancy-ridden newcomer It’s Just Not In It, who had assumed a four-length advantage, all but came down himself at the last allowing Brendan Madden’s home-bred Snow Punt to capitalise on the flat and score by two lengths. “It’s great to get another winner for Brendan [Madden]. Our families go back a long way, my father John Joe trained Propunt to win a Kerry National for his father in 1992,” stated Walsh.

“This lad was running a nice race on his debut when falling in Kildorrery. We might aim for a bumper in Cork over Easter with him now.”

Coolroe Lady offers relief for bookies in the last

ON a trying afternoon for the 11 bookmakers, the Ben Halsall-trained Coolroe Lady (4/1 - 6/1) finally afforded the layers some reprieve when springing a mild surprise in the closing five-year-old and upwards maiden – a contest restricted to horses who had been unplaced in their prior runs.

Owned and bred by Cian Warren, the daughter of Milan responded in fine style to Troy Walsh’s urgings in the home straight and having joined issue with long-time leader Sampoet at the final fence, fared best close home to carry the day by a length and a half.

Horse to Follow

Beau Walking (S. Byrne): Having run an encouraging race until falling two out in the maiden won by Saladins Son in Tattersalls in December, this Walk In The Park gelding forced Nas Na Riogh to pull out all the stops in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. Compensation should not be long in coming his way.

News

Curling Presentation

The Tipperary Foxhounds marked the recent Cheltenham Festival-success of their point-to-point committee member and race-sponsor Sam Curling and local-jockey Pa King when, after the running of the fourth race, in the parade-ring, hunt chairman Seán Brett and clerk of the course Aiden Kennedy made a presentation to the successful duo.