SUNDAY’S fixture at Monksgrange saw Sonny Carey register his first point-to-point winner in the training ranks courtesy of An Droichead Gorm (6/4 - 2/1) in the older geldings’ maiden.

The Robin Des Pres gelding, was never too far off the pace and sat second for much of the journey before being left in front when favourite Ultimate Optimist crashed out five fences from home.

From there, it was straightforward for the John Stafford-owned gelding as he came home four lengths in front of the Donnchadh Doyle-trained Cinger Du Boissy to provide Neil Bashford with his first success of the season.

“He was second in a handicap chase in Wexford last summer and he just picked up an injury after that but thankfully he’s back now. We’ll make sure he’s okay tomorrow morning before deciding what to do next because he’s not simple,” said Carey, who rode 22 winners between the flags, and is training out of a yard rented from Arthur Moore near Naas.

Local double

Colin Bowe and Barry O’Neill enjoyed a double at their local fixture with their first success of the afternoon coming in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden with Regarde (5/2 - 6/4 favourite) who atoned for his narrow defeat at Ballycahane three weeks previously.

O’Neill’s mount was always in the first half of the 11-runner field and a good jump five fences form home saw him join the leader.

The Milestone Bloodstock-owned gelding then went on at the penultimate fence before easing to a 12-length over Rocco’s Shirocco.

Bowe stated that the €65,000 Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale purchase could possibly reappear in a winners’ contest.

The local duo recorded a quick double on the afternoon in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden as Dime Store Cowgirl (3/1 - 4/1) got her head in front in a three-way drive for the line.

The daughter of Gentlewave was reappearing here, having not been seen since finishing second in a four-year-old contest at Umma House back in October.

Always handy

The £16,000 Goffs UK Summer Sale graduate, who Bowe purchased with fellow handler Denis Murphy, was always handy under O’Neill and joined the leader before the final fence before coming out on top by a length and a half over the ultra-consistent Donnchadh Doyle-trained Some Women, who had to settle for the runners-up spot again.

Speaking about the Milestone Bloodstock-owned five-year-old, the winning handler stated: “She was second twice in her first two runs, then we gave her a break and she’s not long back working. She’s a very genuine little mare who should have a nice future on the track. We might give her another run before selling her on.”

ROB James trained and rode Classic Anthem (5/2 - 7/4 joint-favourite) to success in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden in a race which saw the Matchmaker Syndicate-owned debutant finish alone. James was never too far away from the head of affairs in the six-runner contest, joining the long-time leader No Time To Wait after the third last and the pair had burned off their rivals before entering the straight.

The €36,000 Derby Sale purchase had gone three lengths clear of Denis Murphy’s charge before the penultimate fence when that rival came down leaving the Affinisea-sired winner to come home alone.

Speaking of his fifth training success of the season, a delighted James stated: “I really fancied him and with the ground being so safe here we had to run him here. He done it well, I was upsides Luke Murphy [No Time To Wait] coming to the top of the hill and I’d gone by him going to the second last, I had him covered when he fell.

“He galloped out to the line on his own, and he’s a lovely horse. He’ll go to the sales now.”

The feature race on the card was a winners-of-two contest for novice riders and it proved to be a dramatic affair with five of the 10 runners who had set out still holding chances on the run to the fifth-last obstacle.

However, the complexion of the contest changed dramatically at that fence with Garm Colombe, Well P and most notably joint-favourite Plan B all exiting.

That incident left First Preference and Joe’s Turn (3/1 favourite) to do battle, and it was the latter who had race fitness on his side, that came out on top by two lengths for Barry Stone and Richie Rath.

The six-year-old who was having just his second career start was homebred by his Oylegate-based owner Laurence O’Brien, had previously won on his debut at Ballindenisk back in January.

The winning handler stated that the son of Jet Away would be aimed at a bumper next if not sold.

THE Harley Dunne-owned, trained and ridden Mel Monroe (3/1 - 6/4 favourite) was an easy winner of the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden.

Dunne made all the running aboard the daughter of Walk In The Park and had his rivals under pressure before entering the straight having quickened clear going around the bend for home. They went on to beat the Tom Byrne-trained Lets Go To Vegas by 10 lengths.

“She’s very good. She did everything extremely well, she travelled, she jumped, and she quickened away from the others, said Dunne of the €28,000 Derby Sale purchase, who is a half-sister to Colin Bowe’s Grade 2 winner Askanna.

“She made a bad mistake at the third which was only greenness, but after that she was foot perfect.”

Horse to Follow

Popova (P. Power)

This daughter of Ruler Of The World made good ground and was in a close fourth when coming down at the final obstacle in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

She offered plenty of promise behind more experienced types and should be capable of stepping forward.

50 not out

WEXFORD journalist, broadcaster and author Dan Walsh was marking his 50th year reporting on point-to-points in the southeast at the fixture. Walsh covered his first ever meeting 50 years ago on the corresponding weekend.