THERE were some noteworthy performances at Saturday’s Ward Union Staghounds fixture at Oldtown, and the Peter Buchanan-trained Jacob’s Ladder indicated that a track career awaits by posting an emphatic debut success in the first division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

With ground conditions understandably testing at The Folly venue, the towering Jacob’s Ladder (3/1 - 7/2) tracked Big Interest in second until edging ahead with Noel McParlan after the fourth last of the 12 obstacles.

The son of Mount Nelson, a €27,000 Derby sale graduate that traces back to Cooldine and Blow By Blow, then blundered two out only to stylishly assert before the last.

While fellow debutant A Moments Madness, who was far from clever four out, powered home to go second in the closing stages, he was still two lengths adrift at the line. Snap Fish meanwhile atoned for pulling up on his debut at Knockmullen House in November by securing the minor honours, a further head adrift.

Buchanan, having ridden some 400 track winners during his time with Lucinda Russell, trains Jacob’s Ladder for his uncle, Ian Buchanan.

Operating from the elder Buchanan’s Lisburn yard, the winning handler reported of the early May foal Jacob’s Ladder: “He’s a lovely horse that has been a pure athlete from day one and Mount Nelson probably wasn’t overly popular when we bought him. I have four horses in training at the moment and this fellow will probably now be sold.”

Excellent fettle

Derek O’Connor has the team of youngsters that he trains for J.P. McManus in excellent fettle and the pair combined for their second success in a four-year-old maiden this season by landing the opening two and a half-mile contest with newcomer Thatsdwayimthinkin (3/1 – 5/2 joint-favourite).

A brother to four track winners including Limerick Lace and Ilikedwayurthinkin, the Getaway-sired Thatsdwayimthinkin that was actually homebred by McManus’ wife, Noreen, was held up off the pace by O’Connor as I Give Theorders and Battle Front cut out the running.

The eventual winner edged ever closer before three out and, having jumped the second last in fourth spot, he took command after this penultimate fence to account for You Proof by three lengths in the style of a smart prospect.

With McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry present, O’Connor reported: “He’s a lovely horse that has always worked well and I was delighted with his performance today.”

The Galwegian continued: “I’m in a very privileged position to be training some really lovely horses and I’m also extremely lucky to have a fabulous team of lads working with me.”

Double up

O’Connor went on to partner a double by teaming up with Enda Bolger to land the open aboard pointing debutant Early Doors (7/4 - 9/4), similarly representing McManus.

Winner of the 2020 renewal of the Galway Plate when trained by Joseph O’Brien, Early Doors moved closer in third on the outer before three out and he picked up the running clearly travelling best two out.

While then giving his supporters some cause for alarm by jinking somewhat just before take off at the last, the victorious 11-year-old swept clear on the flat to dismiss Some Man by six lengths.

Bolger revealed that Early Doors, who held a 148 mark over fences during his pomp, is now eligible for hunter chases and that route will be explored.

JACK Hendrick was another to record a double with the Wexford amateur signing off aboard Dancing Sky (4/1 - 5/1), an initial success of the season for Kilmore-based handler Thomas Byrne, in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Dancing Sky, who unseated at the last on her debut in the Lingstown contest won by My Forever Annie in November, came through to take the lead before two out and she held in the region of a length advantage over Deravarra Rose when Barry O’Neill’s mount departed at the final fence.

Dancing Sky, also owned by Byrne, was then left clear to beat last month’s Tyrella runner-up Mariposa Rose by six lengths. It’s likely that Dancing Sky will now be sold.

Hendrick was earlier on the mark aboard owner-trainer Denis Murphy’s imposing newcomer Big Zouk (3/1 - 4/1) in the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. The grey Big Zouk, a €55,000 Derby sale graduate who is out of an unraced own-sister to Viconte Du Noyer, picked up the running with two fences remaining.

While patiently-ridden debutant Followcato came through to lead on the flat, Big Zouk then re-assumed command to deny Willie Murphy’s charge by a length with a six-length break back to another first-timer Hocker Du Moulin in third.

Spark sets off

the local cheers

THE Ian Donoghue-trained John The Spark (11/10 – 5/4 favourite), representing Stephen O’Connor, who is one of the Ward Unions’ joint-masters and sponsor of the second race through The Underwriting Exchange, provided the locals with plenty of cheer by readily justifying his favourite’s tag under Joey Dunne in the winners’ of three.

John The Spark, having captured a Moira maiden in late October before following up at Tattersalls in December, was always positioned at the head of affairs and he asserted before the last en-route to dispensing with Global Assembly by an increasing 10 lengths.

“He’s a horse that gallops and jumps all day and he could now be sold,” said Donoghue of John The Spark, who was equipped with cheekpieces.

Close finish

The closest finish of the day came in the concluding older geldings’ maiden as Cash Cut (3/1 - 4/1) returned to the form that saw him lying in second spot when unseating at the last at Castletown-Geoghegan over four months earlier by obliging under his owner/trainer John Walsh’s son, James Walsh.

Cash Cut moved through to challenge Josies Dylan two out and there was then little to separate the pair until the winner edged into a narrow advantage on the flat, one he maintained to the line to eclipse Maeve Carlin’s mount by a head. A stewards’ inquiry was called in relation to possible interference from the last, but there was no alteration to the result.

Horse to Follow

Followcato (W. P. Murphy): This Notnowcato-sired newcomer came from well off the pace when chasing home Big Zouk in the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. Ultimately beaten a length, he should effortlessly atone whilst he also possesses the necessary speed to make an impact on the track.