THERE is just one place to be on the Wednesday of Easter week and that’s in east Co Cork for the annual Inch meeting, which takes place under the auspices of the Killeagh Harriers.

This year’s renewal, held at the Ballyknock circuit outside Mount Uniacke for the third consecutive occasion, survived an early morning inspection and Supreme Malinas created a very favourable impression by coming home as she pleased under her handler Donie Murphy’s son James in the four-year-old mares’ maiden.

Supreme Malinas (4/1 - 6/1), having fallen four out on her debut at Castlelands just 17 days earlier, was always positioned close to the pace and she made her way to the head of affairs at the ninth of the 15 obstacles.

The daughter of Malinas then jumped soundly in front and she had only one semblance of a threat left on the approach to the last as runner-up Lovin On You closed to within four lengths.

That was as near as Sam Curling’s charge got though as Supreme Malinas, whose unraced dam is a half-sister to Grade 2 novice hurdle-winning mare Jessber’s Dream from the same family as Champ Kiely, scorched clear on the flat to beat her by 24 lengths.

Fedney’s Park meanwhile returned a further 40 lengths adrift in third spot with the trio being the only runners to complete the course from the 12 participants that set out.

“She was travelling very well when she fell in Castlelands. I was actually hoping that she would put up a performance like that in Castlelands and [son] James bought herself at the Goffs Arkle sale last year. She will probably be sold now,” said Walshtown-based handler Murphy of his wife Geraldine’s Supreme Malinas.

Satisfaction

Lovin On You’s rider Derek O’Connor didn’t leave empty-handed and the former multiple championwill have attained immense satisfaction from his success aboard Holokea (5/4 – 9/10 favourite) in the five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts’ maiden as the victorious son of Diamond Boy represents his uncle Charlie Moore, a regular on the circuit every weekend.

The Garry Aherne-trained/bred Holokea, runner up on his two previous starts in adjacent hunt maidens at Tallow and Knockanohill, went in pursuit of long-time leader Phildante from three out and he took the measure of Michael McGrath’s mount before the final fence en-route to dismissing her by 16 lengths with the duo being the only finishers.

“I was a bit disappointed with him last season, but he has come right now,” said Aherne, who also started off Lucinda Russell’s useful handicap chase Your Own Story in points. “We’ll probably run him in a winners’ race now and then sell him at Doncaster in May.”

Andrew Kinirons saddled a rare points winner courtesy of ex-track performer Baby Chou (4/1 - 5/1) in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Baby Chou, who finished third in a pair of two-mile maiden hurdles last spring when under the care of Jessica Harrington, was ridden patiently by Johnny Barry and the recent Kirkistown sixth moved second between the final two fences.

The winning six-year-old, having seemed destined for the runner-up slot at the last, stayed on gamely to hit the front under 100 yards out to thwart the consistent No Pains No Gains by six lengths. Kinirons indicated that the Sean Murphy-owned Baby Chou will now be prepared for a tilt at the Bishopscourt Cup at the Punchestown Festival.

Con’s rocks the bookmakers

TERENCE O’Brien is experiencing a purple patch at the moment and the Woodstock Stables handler struck with Con’s Roc (5/4 - 11/8 favourite) in the winners’ of one, much to the dismay of the 10 bookmakers present.

The seven-year-old Con’s Roc, who returned from a 14-month absence to collect the Knockanard adjacent hunts’ maiden last month, disputed the running with Simply The Bestone until edging ahead from five out under Darragh Allen.

Thereyllbguddaysyet went in pursuit from thee out, but last month’s Kildorrery victor was fighting a losing battle after the second last and he was some 12 lengths adrift of the winner and well held when falling at the final fence. Con’s Roc, owned by the Now Or Never Syndicate that includes rider Allen’s uncle John Allen, duly came home alone.

“He’s a very nice horse that is really one to look forward to and, whilst you could go anywhere with him, he’ll probably go for a hunter chase next,” said O’Brien of Con’s Roc as he was congratulated by countless well-wishers.

Combined

Thereyllbguddaysyet’s rider Mikey O’Connor earlier combined with David O’Brien to capture the five-year-old geldings’ maiden aboard recent Ballycahane third Mic Drop (2/1 - 5/2 favourite).

Owned and bred by Peter Tarrant from Kilfeacle, Mic Dop set out with the intention of making all and he led until overtaken by Mount Rinjani well before the last.

Clearly a teak-tough customer, Mic Dop made his way back to the front at the final fence and he then bravely kept last season’s Grennan second Devilsinthedetail at bay to oblige by three-quarters of a length in the day’s closest finish. Mount Rinjani faded to return a further 24 lengths adrift in third.

Doyle’s yarn has the last laugh

SEAN Doyle has his team in rude health at present and he sent out well-bred newcomer Spinningayarn (3/1 – 5/2 favourite) to record a taking success under Jamie Scallan in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Noticebox went to the front at the second fence and, having jumped soundly, the British-bred was marginally overtaken just before the last.

Noticebox still held every chance in second when falling at this final fence as the victorious bay, another four-year-old winner for Order Of St George, bounded clear for Jamie Scallan to account for fellow debutant Tree Top Tyson by a widening 10 lengths in the familiar Monbeg Partnership silks. “He’s a really lovely hose that has always worked well and he’ll now go to some of the sales,” enthused Doyle of the physically-imposing Spinningayarn, a €60,000 Derby sale graduate whose dam is a half-sister to Jedd O’Keeffe’s Grade 1 winning staying hurdler Sam Spinner.

Noticebox (J. C. Hurley): This British-bed son of Gemix had only been fractionally overtaken when falling at the last on his debut in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The €38,000 Deby sale graduate still held every chance at the time and the Fabulous Sage relation appeals as a sure track winner.