ALL roads led to Castlelands on Sunday for the annual Lismore meeting and owner-trainer Denis Murphy introduced an exciting newcomer at the West Waterford Foxhounds-sanctioned fixture in the form of Queensbury Boy who hinted that a bright track career lies in wait by winning the four-year-old maiden.

The favourite Quebecois was always positioned close to the pace on the outer and he moved through to challenge long-time leader Crocodile Lounge from before the third last of the 15 obstacles.

Quebecois set sail for home from three out and Queensbury Boy (4/1 - 5/1), who was some four lengths adrift in third on the run to the penultimate obstacle, closed down the market leader before the last.

The winning son of Doyen assumed command on the flat under talented 5lb claimer Joey Dunne to beat Quebecois by a length with Diamond King hinting that his turn is imminent by securing the minor honours, a further four lengths adrift in a race that saw debutants complete a clean sweep of the placings.

The absent Murphy was winning his second four-year-old maiden of the year as he was also on the mark with the filly Break My Soul at Tinahely the previous Sunday. Dunne meanwhile went on to complete an across-the card double as he travelled to Borris House to dead-heat aboard the aforementioned Murphy’s Three By Two in the adjacent maiden.

Murphy’s representative Kate Kelly remarked of Queensbury Boy, a €65,000 graduate of last year’s Goffs Land Rover Sale whose dam Queens Wild was a Grade 3 winning chaser: “He’s a horse that we’ve always thought a lot of at home and he’ll hopefully now go to the Cheltenham Festival Sale.”

Declan Queally, also on the mark with Doyen Ta Win in a €22,000 handicap hurdle at Wexford on Sunday, dominated proceedings at Castlelands as he was responsible for two winners.

It was Chris O’Donovan who partnered both of the Cappagh-based handler’s winners, the pair opening their account courtesy of seasonal debutant Majestic Design (4/1 - 5/1) in the mares’ maiden.

Majestic Design, who was making her debut for Queally having failed to complete the course on her two forays last term, moved through to join Rebel Treaty from six out.

There was then very little to separate the pair until the winning six-year-old gained a couple of lengths advantage when throwing a fabulous leap on the inner three out.

Majestic Design was already possessing all the aces when Rebel Treaty, who was some four lengths adrift, erred two out with 14 lengths ultimately separating the pair.

“She’s a half-sister to [Grade 2 placed hurdler] My Design that we won with at Clonmel last Thursday,” reported Queally of Majestic Design, owned by joint-breeder Fiona O’Connor from Cappoquin. “The Gain Mares’ Final is on at Ballynoe in three weeks’ time and hopefully she will run there.”

The recent Kildorrery runner-up Lord Schnitzel (5/4 favourite) completed the Queally/O’Donovan brace by posting a tenacious front-running victory in the open, much to the dismay of the 13 bookmakers present.

The 10-year-old Lord Schnitzel, also successful at Ballindenisk in December, got into a nice rhythm at the head of affairs and Dinny Lacey closed to within a length between the final two fences.

However, James Motherway’s charge wasn’t able to raise his effort from the last and he was still some one and a half lengths adrift of the winning 10-year-old at the line. It seems likely that Lord Schnitzel, representing Klaus Koentopp, will be aimed at a hunters chase at Cork on Easter Monday.

No Focus lost in Dan’s breathtaking winner for grandad

FOCUS Point has developed into a smart frontrunner this season and the seven-year-old recorded his third consecutive success by giving another breathtaking display of fencing under his handler Timmy Hyde’s 19-year-old grandson Dan Hyde to collect the winners of two.

Focus Point (8/13 - 4/6 favourite) held a three-length advantage over Tender Heart when Eamonn Gallagher’s mare exited two out and the successful son of Robin Des Champs duly returned with 22 lengths to spare over the only other finisher, Gray Rock, in the silks of his handler’s wife Trish Hyde. It’s probable that Focus Point will be aimed at a maiden hunters chase at some stage.

There was yet another family success in the five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden as James Kenny returned to the coveted number one slot aboard his father Liam Kenny’s New Order (4/1), an own-brother to Gordon Elliott’s recent Dublin racing festival winner The Goffer.

New Order (3/1 - 4/1), a respectable third on his initial start at Ballinaboola last month, disputed the running virtually throughout and he had Monks Meadow as his closest pursuer from four out. The latter was beaten from the second-last as Outside Adesa took up the chase.

The wining son of Yeats however forged clear before the last to beat Outside Adesa by four lengths in the colours of Island hunt stalwart Gavan Kinch. It seems that New Order, whom connections purchased as a yearling, will now be offered for sale.

Romeo produces touch of magic to close out meeting

THE Cormac Doyle-trained Romeo Magico (1/1 - 4/5 favourite) sent punters home on excellent terms with themselves by justifying favouritism in the closing unplaced maiden.

Romeo Magico, who was only beaten four and a half lengths into fifth spot on his sole outing last term in the Broughshane four-year-old maiden won by Kinbara, moved closer on the outer under a confident Jack Hendrick from three out and he was sent in pursuit of the mare Idylle Sauvage well before the final fence.

The winning son of Affinisea touched down in front here and was always containing Idylle Sauvage, to whom he was conceding all of 10lb, in the closing stages with two lengths the winning margin.

Handler Doyle hinted that the Monbeg Farm Racing Partnership-owned Romeo Magico will now be aimed at a winners’ race.

Horse to Follow

Quebecois (S. T. Doyle): A newcomer by No Risk At All that’s a half-brother to Brindisi Breeze, this fellow was sent off favourite on his debut in the four-year-old maiden. He was beaten by a length into second spot and strikes one as an extremely smart track prospect.