LAST Sunday’s Kilmoganny Foxhounds-fixture at Mainstown will live long in the memory of Co Kildare-native Rachel Kelly who partnered her first career winner aboard Dom Dolo in the featured ladies’ open.

Handled by in-form owner-trainer Barry Connell, the seven-year-old moved through to tackle Enda Bolger’s Staker Wallace at the final of the contest’s 13 fences and the Special Kaldoun-gelding fared best on the short run-in to oblige by a length and a half on his second points start.

“We’d have been delighted if he was fourth or fifth today as we felt he might need the run. Rachel gave him a peach of a ride and the horse is hers to ride in these opens for the rest of the year,” outlined Connell of his dual track-winner.

Unsurprisingly, 22-year-old Kelly was sporting a broad grin having just partnered her initial winner in the saddle.

“It’s a dream come true really,” stated an overjoyed Kelly, who received a vase and a generous hamper from local sponsors.

“Barry’s yard is the only yard I’ve ever worked in. I’ve been there for four years now. I owe him so much really.

“There’s so many great lads in there that I am learning from like Mark Bolger, Garrett Cotter and Roger Loughran. They’re a huge help to me. To have my first winner in a race which is part of the ladies open series is extra special as well.”

Fellow Kildare native Ian McCarthy was on the mark in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden where the Nicki McCarthy-owned Tea For Free obliged at the first time of asking.

Given the office by Michael O’Sullivan on touching down at the penultimate obstacle, the Court Cave-gelding threw a fine leap at the last and was always in command thereafter to deny fellow first-timer Name Of Fame by two and a half lengths.

“He’s a lovely horse that was ready to run in the spring and has always shown us plenty at home. He’s big so the time did him no harm either. He’s for sale now,” outlined McCarthy of the bay who was acquired by connections as a three-year-old.

Travelled stylishly

The opening four-year-old maiden was divided with the opening division going the way of the Ellmarie Holden-handled Sholokjack.

Owned by the winning handler’s mother Catherine, the Derek O’Connor-ridden newcomer travelled stylishly throughout and ultimately ran out a cosy two-length victor over Creative Control.

“This is a nice horse that we bought at last year’s Derby Sale. He’s taken a bit of time at home but everything went to plan today and he’s one to look forward to,” remarked the winning handler’s father Paul.

Fellow debutant Fameaftertheglory claimed the second division of the same contest under James Walsh to give his handler Donnchadh Doyle a third four-year-old winner in four weeks.

Drawing clear when the trailing pair of Pull Again Green and Big Bad Buzz departed two from home, the Fame And Glory gelding had little difficulty in containing the challenge of Big Shanghai by a length and a half.

“This lad is a grand horse. J J felt he was very green there particularly near the end, so he can only improve and will be now sold,” declared winning owner Eamonn Doyle.

Glenbeg Express romps home

SENT to the head of affairs from the drop of the flag by Darragh Allen, the Shane O’ Brien-trained Glenbeg Express routed her six rivals in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

The daughter of Double Eclipse, who had demonstrated clear promise on her sole other outing in Boulta a fortnight earlier, only needed to be kept up to her work late in the day to readily register a 10-length triumph over Ifeoinly.

“Shane had this mare in mighty form and in fairness he does a great job with his string. If anything I could have gone a stride quicker today on her as she’s a great galloper and is great to jump too,” reflected Allen of the Stephen Ahearne-owned five-year-old.

Seven also went to post in the concluding six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden for novice riders where victory went the way of Kevin Heffernan’s Mahler Of Autumn.

The Jack Hendrick-partnered seven-year-old had finished sixth at Borris House the previous Sunday but showed no ill-effects from that effort as he scarcely saw another rival on his way to a six-length success over Dubai Dandy.

“He’s a lovely horse to train and he’s been very consistent in his races so he deserved that one today. I said to Jack to try and get a lead and he’ll be hard to pass. He got him into a lovely rhythm to be fair, hopefully he’ll be sold now,” disclosed Athenry, Co Galway-handler. Heffernan.

Dead-heat thriller

THERE was a thrilling finish to the winner-of-two contest with the judge ultimately unable to separate the previous week’s Borris House-winner Current Mood and Thedancingfarrier who had obliged in a similar contest in Dromahane in October.

The Brian Lawless-ridden Current Mood held the call after two out in this 11-runner contest only for Richie Kiely to produce his brother Tom’s Thedancingfarrier to join issue at the final fence.

Faster leap

Here, the Liam Kenny-handled Current Mood briefly looked to have sealed the issue with the faster leap, however the Paul Kiely-handled Thedancingfarrier battled back bravely in the dying strides to force a dead-heat.

It is now probable the Kiely family’s charge will contest a hunter chase in Clonmel in the new year. If not sold, another winners’ race will likely be the next port of call for Liam Gahan’s Current Mood.

Horse To Follow

Pour Pavore (P.J. Crowley): This son of Pour Moi shaped with real promise on his second career start when a fast-finishing third in the opening division of the four-year-old maiden. He looks well up to sampling victory in a similar contest.