THE northern season commenced with the Mid-Antrim Harriers meeting at Toomebridge on Saturday. On an afternoon that witnessed testing underfoot conditions due to significant overnight rain, the five-year-old Raceview Road (evens – 4/5 favourite) initiated the opening leg of a double for handler Gerald Quinn and rider Dara McGill by recording a clear-cut success in the winners’ of one.

While this race attracted just three runners, it was still run in the fastest time of the day as Hathaways Cottage attempted to make all with Raceview Road always in her slipstream.

Raceview Road, who won his maiden at the second time of asking at Taylorstown in May, surged past Hathways Cottage on the inner before the penultimate of the 15 obstacles.

It was all relatively plain sailing thereafter as the victorious son of Milan powered clear after the second last fence to beat Hathways Cottage by a comprehensive 10 lengths in the Philip McBurney silks.

Quinn reported of Raceview Road, a half-brother to Crebilly whom he also started off in points in 2021 and who won a £35,000 Sandown handicap hurdle for Jonjo O’Neill this past April. “He’s a horse that I’ve always thought a lot of. I’m unsure though whether he will now be sold or whether he will go hunter chasing.”

Voleur De Terres (7/4 – 13/8) completed the Quinn-McGill brace by coming home as she pleased in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Voleur De Terres, having completed the course just once from four starts last term when finishing a soundly beaten ninth at Moira in April, disputed the running with All Loved Up until going for home from five out.

The daughter of Ocovango forged clear from the third last and she held an unassailable advantage on the long descent to the last.

While the favourite Neat Locality closed on the flat as the winner was heavily eased, she was still four lengths adrift at the line.

“She’s a mare that was unlucky last season, she fell going well in Taylorstown,” disclosed Quinn of Voleur De Terres, sporting the familiar colours of Lisburn-based owner Robert Armstrong.

“She was excellent today as she jumped from fence to fence and I’ve always thought a lot of her.”

Barry O’Neill, who returned to the number two slot no less than three times throughout the day, kept his supporters happy by landing the five-year-old geldings’ maiden aboard clear form choice Isholo Du Vivien (evens - 5/4 favourite).

The Colin Bowe-trained Isholo Du Vivien, who finished second to Racavan on fast ground at Tyrella in March, benefitted from front-running tactics by recording a smooth pillar-to-post success.

The €25,000 Tattersalls Ireland May Sale graduate gave an assured round of fencing and he was gone beyond recall from two out, 11 lengths separating him from former British hurdler Syr Maffos.

Rider O’Neill remarked of the Milestone Bloodstock Ltd-owned bay. “He’s a horse that’s very versatile as regards ground.

“He fell six out on his final start last season in Taylorstown and I’d have been disappointed if he had got beaten today. He’s probably go to the Cheltenham sale in November.”

Goff proven right in running Peggy

THE four-year-old mares’ maiden kicked off proceedings and Peggy’s Rock (4/1 - 6/1) vindicated handler Mick Goff’s decision not to withdraw her due to the testing ground conditions by obliging under Mikey Sweeney in what was the afternoon’s closest finish.

Kiltealy Park set out to make all at a searching pace and last season’s dual third only had the pursuing Peggy’s Rock to contend with from four out as the pair drew clear. Kiltealy Park still seemed the most likely winner on the descent to the last as Peggy’s Rock came under pressure in second spot, some three lengths adrift.

However, the winning daughter of Mount Nelson landed faster over the final fence and she was soon at the head of affairs. While Kiltealy Park rallied gamely as the line approached, there was still a short head between them with the pair returning 22 lengths clear of the third-placed Hay Baby.

“She ran well when finishing third [to Qualimita] at Fairyhouse last April, a few things went wrong on her in the race,” said Goff of his wife Catriona’s €16,000 foal acquisition that’s a half-sister to four track winners including six-time scorer Marinero.

There was another Wexford-trained winner in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden, the race that attracted the biggest field of the afternoon in eight runners, as owner-trainer Matthew Flynn O’Connor’s newcomer Caughtinyourtrance (4/1 - 6/1) created a favourable impression in the hands of Brian Lawless.

Caughtinyourtrance made smooth progress from mid-division to dispute a share of the running from the sixth fence and from four out, the race concerned him and runner-up Tom Doniphon as they raced four lengths clear of the pursuing Kells And Connor.

Caughtinyourtrance though was travelling marginally better than Tom Doniphon after two out and, having thrown a fabulous jump at the last, the winning son of Ocovango swept clear on the flat to score by four lengths. There was an eight-length break back to Peggy’s Rock’s stable-companion Blue Bellamy in third.

Caughtinyourtrance was well bought for €12,000 at last year’s Tattersalls Ireland May sale and he traces back to listed bumper winning performer Tetlami.

Dunleavy delivers on bookmakers wishes

THE 14 bookmakers present received a terrific result as the Jamie Sloan-trained Love And Wishes sprung an 8/1 upset on his points debut in the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

The 11-year-old Love And Wishes, who was under the care of Jessica Harrington when finishing fourth off a mark of 109 in a two-mile Naas handicap hurdle in 2018, was bounced out in front by Brian Dunleavy and he valiantly made all the running to dismiss Ballymoney by four lengths in the colours of Dromore-based breeder JJ Taylor.

Horse to Follow

Kiltealy Park (C. Bowe): This daughter of Walk In The Park, a maternal granddaughter of Mistinguett, shaped well by coming third on her two spring forays and she tried to make all in the four-year-old mares’ maiden. She was outjumped though at the last and was beaten a short head into second. Points success seems assured whilst she should also win over hurdles as a five-year-old.