THE Louth Foxhounds venue of Tattersalls was the only track that didn’t fall victim to the recent significant rainfall to provide spectators with plenty of action on Sunday afternoon.

Jonathan Fogarty unleashed his first four-year-old since the turn of the year in the form of smart newcomer Flamingo Grove (4/1), a daughter of the very fashionable Blue Bresil, who collected the four-year-old mares’ maiden in the hands of Conor Moore.

Always towards the head of affairs, this €38,000 Goffs Arkle Sale purchase showed great professionalism as she asserted her authority in the straight to beat the more experienced Dramatic Encore by eight lengths for the Gaynestown Stud Partnership.

“She won with a good bit in hand, I was always confident in the way she travelled and jumped, as she’s a nice mare - big, strong and plenty of scope,” the winning rider said.

“This was our first four-year-old runner this term, so it was nice to see they are plenty fit - we always loved her work but it’s hard to judge until you run one.”

Patient approach

The card also looks to have produced another smart winning mare in the form of Nastya (2/1 - 3/1) who reaped the rewards of her owner and handler Maike Magnussen’s patient approach to score in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Having shaped with promise on debut at Turtulla in November when finishing second to the subsequent £115,000 purchase Star Walking, the bay was given time before a return to competitive action. Following a five-month break, the five-year-old daughter of Vendangeur was always positioned to the fore by Pa King, before she lengthened clear into the straight to defeat the Castlelands final fence faller and odds-on favourite Madame Le’Strange by eight lengths.

The winning handler stated: “I was very pleased with her debut performance, but I knew she would progress for her first run, she is a very scopey big mare who needed the time to come together. Hopefully she will now head to the sales.”

Masterclass

Derek O’Connor gave those spectators in attendance a masterclass in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden aboard the Ross O’Sullivan-trained Jig’s Force (4/1).

Always at the rear of the field, O’Connor gave this son of Westerner a vintage ride as he began to make smooth progress and picking off rivals from four-out.

In his customary style he produced this five-year-old son of Westerner to overtake the eventual runner-up Walking On A Dream when it mattered and asserted from the back of the last in fine fashion to oblige by four lengths for owner Rose Vaughan.

“He’s a really likeable horse, this was his third start and he’s improved from run to run,” O’Connor said.

“He is after soundly beating a competitive field, galloping away at the line.

“He loved the conditions and jumped well. He’s a horse that is a little bit endless because he’s a very progressive. I think he could be very nice.”

Neo King rules for McCaldin

CAROLINE McCaldin continued her excellent run of form as she secured her 10th success of the season when Neo King (2/1 - 3/1) stepped forward from his great second-placed effort in the hunter chase at Down Royal on St Patrick’s Day.

This progressive son of Coastal Path took up this engagement following the cancellation of Downpatrick where he was declared in another hunter chase, and he clearly relished the step up in strip.

Owned by McCaldin’s husband Alan, this six-year-old demonstrated how he has no shortage of stamina reserves as he galloped into the lead in the home straight to beat the long-time leader Wine And Dine by a cosy two and a half-lengths.

The Portrush maiden winner could now return to the track for a maiden hunter chase.

First success

David Christie and Shane Cotter are proving to be a force to be reckoned with in the novice rider open division this season as they claimed their third win together of the season when Ask D’Man recorded his first success since a hunter chase win at Stratford in May 2022.

Sporting the colours of owners John Hegarty and Jennifer O’Kane, the Ask gelding made all of the running to beat the short-priced favourite and former dual Grade 1-winner Battleoverdoyen.

“The horses came back in after the summer, and they just were not themselves,” Christie said. This horse only started to bloom a fortnight ago and we’ve hardly been able to pull him up after his work since! It was great to see him do that today.

“He’s a very tricky ride, he can hang either way and jump to his left the way he did six-out. He’s better left-handed and I thought Shane gave him a superb ride.

“We will go to another open and possibly a hunter chase before the end of the season.”

BOOKMAKERS went home happy as Ooksoo (4/1) overturned the favourite Josies Dylan in the older geldings’ maiden.

In what was a family affair, this lightly-raced 10-year-old went one better than he had done at Lisronagh on his previous outing to score for Paddy and David Kiely.

Having always been prominent throughout, this son of Kalanisi stamped his authority on the run to the last to come home eight lengths to the good.

“He’s an older horse, John Kiely had him, my son works in John’s and when he got a bit of leg trouble, we took him and gave him the time and he’s after coming good,” the winning handler said.

“He’s plenty of ability and is rated very low on the track, we may go for a winners’ contest but ultimately, we will end up on the track. He’s only rated 87 over hurdles so hopefully we can have a bit of luck with him.”

High Tea (K. Ross): This five-year-old son of Mount Nelson towered over his opponents in the preliminaries and put in a fine effort on his second start between the flags. He looks like a sort who will continue to improve, and a maiden success should be a formality.