DESPITE the poor recent weather conditions those who attended Umma House for the South Westmeath point-to-point were blessed with an afternoon of glorious autumn sunshine and some quality action.

The opening contest on the card went the way of Piper Park (3/1 – 6/4 favourite), with the daughter of Walk In The Park, who was an eye-catcher in the parade ring, stamping her class on the field by making virtually all of the running to provide Tiernan Power Roche and Harley Dunne with their first winners of the new season.

Having been well supported in the betting ring before the off when backed into favouritism, she stayed on well to the line fending off the challenge of the fast-finishing Wednesday Addams to score by two lengths.

“If she didn’t perform here today I would have been very disappointed going home, she’s very straightforward and does everything quite easy at home but she was quite green there today,” the winning rider said.

“She jumped well but she was running around out in front and she’s lots of improvement in her. She’s one to look forward to.”

Derek O’Connor initiated the first leg of a fine double when partnering the Sam Curling-trained Nowwhatdoyouthink (2/1 - 5/4 favourite) to victory in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Consummate ease

A standout in the parade ring, this fine, big son of Mount Nelson was never far off the pace and moved with consummate ease to dispute the lead after three out. Having jumped fluently throughout, the manner of this victory was taking and he looked value for what the winning margin of a length and a half may suggest.

Having been seen in action twice last season, including when finishing second on debut to the impressive Romeo Coolio, the Curling-owned bay looks a horse who has improved significantly over summer, with the €30,000 yearling purchase from the dispersal sale of the late Pat Coffey’s string, now likely to be sold.

“We tidied up his wind over the summer and it made a massive difference,” Curling said.

Good horse

“He is a good horse, he’s only been away once this year, he jumps really well and he’s probably more of a two-mile horse then a three-mile horse I’d say. He stayed at it well there today now and Derek [O’Connor] was impressed with him.”

The second leg of the O’Connor double was swiftly completed in the following five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden aboard Dollar Collar (3/1).

The Daryl Deacon-owned and trained daughter of Kingston Hill produced a much-improved effort when making smooth headway to dispute the lead at the penultimate fence, before leaving behind her opening two efforts by quickly asserting on the flat to defeat Destilado by five lengths.

“We always thought a bit of her, but we had a virus in the yard last season and things just didn’t work out for her,” Deacon said. “We knew coming her today that she had a big chance.”

THE open lightweight for novice riders went the way of the Tom Keating-owned and trained Maid On The Moon (2/1 - 9/4) who benefitted from a confident ride from Hannah Phillips to score by one length.

Having previously been trained in England by Alan King, this was the six-year-old’s first outing in the pointing fields having been purchased for £14,000 at the Ascot sales in June.

Always to the fore, sitting a close second for much of the journey, the Pether’s Moon mare fenced with precise accuracy throughout and looked a winner a long way from home, as she struck the front two out before staying on powerfully to fend off the challenge of Merry Poppins.

“It’s a sharp track around here, you don’t want to be far away because they don’t really come back a lot of the time,” Phillips said.

“She was bought at the Ascot sales and she’s just in the yard for myself to ride for a bit of fun, and this was her first run for us so were delighted. All going well she will keep going away for the season.”

Memorable day

Eighteen-year-old Cathal Sheehan, who hails from Ballynoe, Co Cork, enjoyed a memorable day when partnering the Declan Queally-trained Midnight Show (7/4 favourite) to victory in the five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Owned by Richard Cotter, the bay had been in front when falling three fences from home at Loughrea a fortnight earlier, but he gained compensation with a commanding performance from the Leading Light gelding, as he powered 12 lengths clear of Willitgoahead.

“He was going well in Loughrea when he fell, he just got in tight and tipped up. We though he would run a big race the last day and he was just a bit unlucky, but he’s come on from that again,” stated Sheehan who is based full-time with the winning handler.

JUST two runners went to post for the concluding adjacent winners’ contest and it saw the ever-consistent Knockiel Synge (1/2 favourite) gain a deserved success for Georgie Benson and handler Peter Flood.

Sporting the silks of local man Hugh Mulvihill, who was on-duty as Clerk of the Scales on the day, the nine-year-old was left with a much-simplified task with the departure of his sole rival Fiadh’s Ruby at the halfway stage.

Pressure

“There was probably more pressure going out in a two-runner race then a 10-runner race, but he has lots of experience so I was confident enough as I don’t think the other horse had even run before,” Benson stated, with Knockiel Synge likely to be campaigned in similar races this season.

Horse to Follow

Bobby’s Nelson (S. T. Doyle): This Mount Nelson gelding produced a fine effort on debut, as he went down down by just one and a half lengths. The Derby sale purchase looks a winner in waiting and is sure to improve for his initial effort.